sport news Jim Crowley believes Oisin Murphy is 'man to beat' in Stobart Flat Jockeys ...

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Jim Crowley believes Oisin Murphy is 'the man to beat' in the Stobart Flat Jockeys Championship this season.

The competition, which was won by Silvestre de Sousa last year, kicks off on Saturday afternoon as the first Classic of the campaign gets underway at Newmarket.

De Sousa, who has lifted the title three times in the last four years, has taken on a new position as King Power Racing's retained rider with his focus less likely to be on the sheer number of rides.

And Crowley, who was crowned Champion Jockey three years ago with 148 winners, has conceded that Qatar Racing's No 1 rider Murphy is favourite to seal the crown this time around.

'De Sousa's got a retainer, Oisin Murphy has a retainer but he seems quite popular with a lot of trainers at the moment. He's probably the man to beat I would say Oisin,' he told Sportsmail.

'Silvestre is a brilliant rider and I certainly wouldn't rule him out. I think it's going to be a close battle - it will be interesting to see how it unfolds.'

Crowley, who became No 1 jockey for leading owner Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum shortly after winning the Championship in 2016, would like to lift the title again but accepts his role is to

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