IT'S not over until the fat lady sings, so they say. Well, she is already clearing her throat and will enter the stage, barring accidents, as far as the 2024 jockeys championship is concerned. 

IT was 83 winners before Oisin Murphy arrived at Salisbury for the Wednesday's evening fixture, and it was 86 by the time he left, putting him 33 clear of William Buick. More of that in due course.

Instead, let's shine the spotlight on Ned Sangster, grandson of the racing icon Robert Sangster, who rode his first winner at the 15th time of asking and if you could bottle his euphoria after the race, you would make a fortune.

Sam Sangster placed the most optimistic bet of the decade with a small wager at 5,000/1 his cousin would emerge as champion amateur jockey for the season. Little chance of that happening but finally he got off the mark with a comprehensive win on the favourite Lady Wingalong.

The ex-Irish mare had been an expensive horse to follow since moving to David Evans's yard but she was always travelling comfortably in the seven furlong handicap and once the gap appeared about two furlongs out, she swept through and, despite drifting slightly to her left, ran on strongly to score by three and a half lengths.

"That was absolutely brilliant, a serious buzz," beamed a visibly elated Ned who has been held back by a shoulder injury. "I only start riding in February 2013. David likes to give jockeys their first winner. He's a great sportsman."

Murphy's brace of juvenile winners were little more than armchair rides. Shout fluffed his lines on his Windsor debut, losing a dozen lengths at the start. No such problems in the six furlong maiden - quickly away to run out a one and a half lengths winner, the distance hardly reflecting his superiority.

"Very professional, though a little babyish, but he pulled clear late on. He has plenty of bone, body and mind. He will get better."

Kept to the outside to ensure a smooth passage, Dream Voyage, sent off at the prohibitive odds of 2/5 for small-time punters, eased into second place at halfway in the six-furlong race confined to fillies and then strode clear. "She has a lovely pedigree and ran with promise at Newmarket. This was just the race for her and put it to bed easily. "

Murphy looked set for an immediate handicap as top weight The Defiant led but welter weight of 9st 10lbs took its toll and Under Curfew came with a sweeping run on the outside. Sadly, the race was marred by a fatal injury to Attay's Edge who shattered a leg just after passing the line.

But a third winner soon followed when Murphy stalked Sheila's Parade on Sir Gabrial until two out when he strode clear to win as easily as could be imagined.