Hughes still favourite to be top rider
Hughes booted home a treble on the opening afternoon while Murtagh managed a solitary winner.
However, the Ballydoyle number one scored aboard Forgotten Voice in the Royal Hunt Cup and Spacious in the Windsor Forest Stakes to ensure he and Hughes are level on three winners apiece heading into day three.
Murtagh just shades the advantage with a placed effort to his name, but with the Irishman banned for the final two days, bookmakers are siding with Hughes.
William Hill make him their even-money favourite from 4-9, with Murtagh trimmed to 15-8 from 9s, while totesport quote the pair at 4-5 and 2-1 respectively.
Murtagh commented: “Three days is long enough to be top jockey here.
“I have 12 rides booked and I am aiming to have six winners.
“If I can have six winners by the end of tomorrow, Richard Hughes can come and try and beat me!”
Champion jockey Ryan Moore has yet to hit the target this week and was eased to 11-2 from 2s with Hills, while American rider John Velazquez is into 6-1 from 66s after riding two winners from his homeland to sit third in the table.
In the trainers’ championship, Richard Hannon and Wesley Ward are level pegging with two winners apiece.
