Murtagh to ride Chicquita in Oaks

Johnny Murtagh will ride French challenger Chicquita in the Darley Irish Oaks at the Curragh on Saturday evening.

Murtagh is the most successful jockey in Irish Oaks history with five victories, the last of which being aboard Moonstone in 2008.

The rider’s agent Eddie Byrne told the Irish Times: “Johnny will ride the French horse on Saturday.

“Her last run looks very good.”

Chicquita has only raced three times and was last seen finishing second to Treve in the Prix de Diane (the French Oaks) at Chantilly towards the end of June.

Her trainer Alain de Royer-Dupre won the Curragh Classic with Shawanda in 2005.