Murphy set to return to action at Newton Abbot tomorrow
The rider had to have his arm plated and pinned in a Dublin hospital after a nasty spill from Emotional Article in a handicap hurdle on April 26, where he appeared to be kicked by several horses and was stretchered away.
But he has been riding work for a few trainers and will look to continue his prolific association with owner David Johnson, whose horses, the majority of which are with Martin Pipe, helped him to ride a career-best 143 winners last season.
“I don’t know if Mr Pipe or Mr Johnson will be having runners, but if the rides are there he plans to be back at Newton Abbot on Tuesday,” said his agent Chris Broad.
“He has been riding out for about a week. He was at Mr Pipe’s the other day and has been riding some work for Mark Pitman and Jamie Osborne. “He had a holiday while he was recovering, but he’s definitely looking forward to getting back and putting a few winners on the board.”
Coronation Stakes heroine Maids Causeway will be scanned this week to determine the extent of a pulled hip muscle.
It was known that the filly had pricked a foot and lost a shoe during her game victory over Karen’s Caper at Royal Ascot at York on Friday but the muscle is a bigger worry for trainer Barry Hills.
Maids Causeway’s win in the Coronation took her career earnings past £350,000 and was her first success in a Group One race, although she was second in the 1000 Guineas.
“It had been feared that she had fractured her near-fore, but that has come to nothing,” Hills said.
“However, she has pulled a muscle in her off-hind hip. The foot is of secondary concern and should heal.
“I’ve not watched a replay of the race yet and can’t tell you where it happened.
“She will be scanned next week and we’ll have to wait and see how things work out after that before we decide what to do next with her.”
Electrocutionist is to be aimed at the Juddmonte International at York in August following his victory in the Gran Premio di Milano at San Siro yesterday.
The highly-regard colt, owned by Earle Mack, the American ambassador to Denmark, beat Vol De Nuit by three-quarters of a length, with Nordhla in third.
Vol De Nuit made the early running from Electrocutionist in the mile-and-a-half contest but the two appeared to come close together at one stage in the long straight.
“Without the two bumps he received in the straight he would have won by two lengths,” claimed victorious trainer Valfredo Valiani.
“This is a very good horse and he now goes for the Juddmonte International.
“He’ll be dropping down in distance, but I’m sure that the horse will be suited by it and York is the perfect track because it is similar to Milan and also has a very long straight.”
Valiani is no stranger to the Knavesmire having won the Yorkshire Oaks with Super Tassa in 2001.
