Murtagh set to reduce British trips

JOHNNY Murtagh is the latest jockey based in Ireland to announce that he will dramatically reduce his riding appearances in Britain because of the controversial new whip rules.

Multiple champion Irish National Hunt jockey Ruby Walsh was handed a five-day suspension for hitting his mount once more than the permitted eight when scoring on Edgardo Sol at Aintree on Saturday, and revealed afterwards that he would now only travel to ride in Britain for the big races.

Murtagh, a three-time winner of the Derby at Epsom, has decided to follow suit as he feels it is not worth picking up a suspension that would lead to him missing out on rides for his boss, John Oxx, in Ireland.