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Horse Racing

Oisin Murphy rages after his well-fancied filly is stopped from running seconds before Epsom Oaks

AFTER months of meticulous planning and preparation, Running Lion’s Epsom Oak’s run was over before the gates opened.

Her jockey Oisin Murphy was understandable heartbroken and was seen slamming his whip to the turf as the field were sent on their way.

Running Lion had worked her way up the grades, winning four in a row since debut, and was 5-1 to win the Oaks.

One of the last to go into the stalls, she could be seen rearing in the gates, unshipping Murphy and bolting behind the stalls.

She was quickly caught, but was unable to run, much to the understandable chagrin of Murphy.

The race was eventually won by Soul Sister, kicking off Frankie Dettori’s final Derby weekend in style.

Dettori’s mount in Saturday’s Derby, the John and Thady Gosden-trained Arrest, has been backed off the boards.

Murphy also has an excellent chance in the fourth Classic of the season aboard Dante winner The Foxes.

There are some stamina doubts surrounding him, but Sun columnist Andrew Balding has been sweet on his chances.

Three-time Flat champion Murphy has made a strong return to race riding following a ban for failing two breathalyser tests and breaching Covid rules on the racecourse.

He partnered Mawj to Classic success earlier this year in the 1,000 Guineas for Saeed bin Suroor and Godolphin.

He also sits second in the table behind the current champ William Buick and has notched up 69 wins in 2023 so far.