Murtagh launches appeal against ban

Johnny Murtagh has lodged an appeal against the two-day ban he received at the Curragh on Sunday.

The jockey has been suspended on October 24 and 26 which currently rules him out of the Breeders’ Cup and Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster.

Murtagh studied a video of the handicap in which he rode Gotarapofahames who was adjudged to have hampered several unplaced horses after veering left in the final furlong.

At Leicester today, Murtagh spoke of his hopes of riding a smart two-year-old, New South Wales, for John Oxx in the Racing Post Trophy.

He said: “I’ve appealed because the horse, who has arthritis in a joint and wore a pricker, didn’t give me any chance and ducked sharply to the left.

“When I let him go I didn’t have time to do anything to correct this. I know I interfered with a couple of horses but there was nothing I could do to stop it.”

Murtagh does not have any booked rides at the Breeders Cup on October 26 but said of New South Wales: “He won a Curragh maiden in good style and I don’t want to miss him.”