Murphy and Whillans face Leda penalties

Trainer Ferdy Murphy has been fined £9,500 (€10,200) and conditional jockey Ewan Whillans hit with a 42-day ban over the running and riding of Mansonn Leda at Catterick last month.

The punishments were handed out following a hearing of the British Horseracing Authority’s disciplinary panel into the Streetlam Mares’ “National Hunt” Novices’ Hurdle Race on December 3.

The panel also suspended the horse from running for 40 days (January 30 to March 10).

The matter was referred to the panel by the local stewards, who held an inquiry the same day.

Whillans, who claims the 5lb allowance and has ridden 27 winners, was found to be in breach of Rule 157 in that he had intentionally not asked Mansonn Leda for sufficient effort and the mare had not run on her merits.

Murphy was deemed to be in breach of Rule 155(ii) as he failed to satisfy the panel that he gave his rider adequate instructions which complied with the Rules in respect of the race.