Murphy bids to overturn suspension

TIMMY MURPHY will have his appeal against a seven-day ban heard at the Jockey Club this morning as he tries to overturn the suspension which would rule him out of a number of a high-profile rides over the Christmas period.

The rider was suspended by the Plumpton stewards on December 13 after being found guilty of improper riding on Semi Precious.

Murphy’s mount crashed out at the fourth-last fence and the rider reacted by throwing his whip at the horse once he was back on his feet.

Meanwhile, First Gold has been given top weight of 11st 12lb in next month’s totesport Classic Chase at Warwick.

Francois Doumen’s 12-year-old has been given 1lb more than Keen Leader in the initial weights for the January 15 event.

Royal Auclair, who is trained by Paul Nicholls, has been given 11st 8lb while One Knight, ante-post favourite for Tuesday’s Coral Welsh National, has 11st 7lb.

Celestial Gold, winner of the Paddy Power and Hennessy Gold Cup double for Martin Pipe, has 11st 6lb while Sue Smith’s Chives is also near the top of the handicap with 11st 5lb.

Other interesting contenders include Nicholls’ L’Aventure (10st 3lb), the Pipe-trained Akarus (10st 1lb) and former Welsh National winner Supreme Glory (10st).

Elsewhere, Gunner Welburn will bid to defend his title in the skybet.com Rowland Meyrick Chase at Wetherby on Sunday.

Andrew Balding’s 12-year-old was an easy winner of the £50,000 race last year and he is all set to run again on St Stephen’s Day.

Gunner Welburn beat Skippers Cleuch by four lengths in the three-mile-one-furlong race 12 months ago and Balding is looking for a big run - as long as the track beats the forecast frost.

Gunner Welburn finished a creditable third in the Rehearsal Chase at Chepstow on his last run and he is an 8-1 chance with the sponsors.

Ryalux, winner of the 2003 Scottish National, is due to have his first race in over a year in the Rowland Meyrick.