Murtagh fails in appeal

JOHNNY Murtagh has failed in his bid to have a five-day suspension he picked up at Royal Ascot overturned, meaning he will miss the Coral-Eclipse Stakes at Sandown next week.

Murtagh was handed the ban by the Ascot stewards who found him guilty of careless riding aboard Kayf Aramis in the Ascot Stakes.

The ban runs from July 1-5 inclusive and means he misses the ride aboard intended Eclipse participant Rip Van Winkle.