Murphy delighted to be back in the saddle

Timmy Murphy did not quite make the winner’s enclosure on his return to race-riding at Wetherby today following a spell in prison, but he was delighted to be back and is determined to take his place again among the country’s leading jump jockeys.

He rode the Mark Pitman-trained Fireball Macnamara to finish runner-up to Epervier D’Or in the Betfair.com Novices’ Chase, and showed he has not lost his edge when showing fine horsemanship to retain the partnership when his mount blundered at the fifth last fence.

Admittedly Fireball Macnamara would have probably only have been third had Monkerhostin not fallen four out, but Murphy was happy to complete a clear round.

He was released from Wormwood Scrubs in London last week after serving 84 days of a six-month sentence for indecently assaulting a flight attendant and being drunk on board an aircraft.

Said Murphy: “I will improve for the outing, but I feel pretty fit and have done a lot of riding in the past week or so.

“It is nice to come back and get round and get your confidence back, confidence is the main thing.”

And recalling his mount’s mistake he went on: “The fences are big around here and they take a bit of jumping, but the horse has gone and done it well really.

“I am riding at Ascot tomorrow and as I say it is good to be back and hopefully I will quickly get back into the swing.”

Pitman was pleased with Murphy and he reasoned: “Timmy has ridden a lot of good winners for me,

including a Hennessy and we have had a very successful association really.

“He came down and schooled for me yesterday, he is a great talent and a top jockey and the thing now is to put everything behind him, he has paid his penalty and it is time to look forward.

“He rides two for me tomorrow and some on Monday and Tuesday, in fact he will be riding regularly for me as usual.”