Murphy set to appeal suspension

TIMMY MURPHY is set to appeal against the seven-day ban he incurred for throwing his whip at his mount Semi Precious at Plumpton on Monday.

Murphy, who in the last few weeks has ridden a series of big-race winners for trainer Martin Pipe and owner David Johnson, will miss any number of high-profile engagements as the ban is scheduled to start on St Stephen’s Day and end on New Year’s Day, ruling him out of the King George VI Chase, the Welsh National and the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown.

Murphy, second behind Tony McCoy in the jockeys’ title race, said: “I haven’t spoken to John Blake (chief executive of the Jockeys’ Association) but as long as he agrees with me that the seven days was harsh then I plan to appeal.”