Banned Murphy to miss plum rides

Timmy Murphy will miss major rides over the Christmas period after picking up a seven-day ban at Plumpton yesterday.

He will be unable to partner Martin Pipe’s Our Vic or Therealbandit in the King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day, and will also miss Beef Or Salmon’s clash with Best Mate in the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown on December 28.

The 29-year-old was given the ban when the stewards took a dim view of the fact that he threw his whip at a horse in frustration after a fall.

Murphy was going well aboard chance ride Semi Precious in the two-and-a-half-mile Coral Casino Handicap Chase, but the Paul Keane-trained six-year-old fell four out.

A frustrated Murphy got up and flung his whip at the rear of the horse with his left hand, striking it on the hind quarters as it galloped away.

The stewards found him guilty of “improper riding, in that Murphy had attempted to strike his horse when it got to its feet”.

They suspended him for seven days, from December 26 to January 1 inclusive.

Stipendiary steward Richard Westrop said: “We have found him guilty under the improper riding rule, which applies whether or not the jockey is mounted on the horse.”

Murphy was fuming afterwards and offered a terse “no comment”.

His agent Chris Broad believes there is a strong chance that he will appeal against the ban.