Murphy ban cut to one day

CHAMPION owner David Johnson is “thrilled to bits” that Timmy Murphy will be able to ride Therealbandit in Sunday’s Stan James King George VI Chase at Kempton.

Murphy was only cleared to ride the Martin Pipe-trained runner after he had a seven-day ban reduced to just one day on appeal at the Jockey Club yesterday.

The jockey was initially due to start his ban on St Stehen’s day and he would have been out of action until New Year’s Day after being found guilty of improper riding at Plumpton on December 13.