Murphy handed 15-day whip ban for repeated rules breaches

The champion jockey's excuse was described as 'a very hollow and unattractive explanation'

Oisin Murphy was given a 15-day ban, five days of which are suspended for six months or 200 rides, with one day to be spent receiving coaching on his use of the whip. Picture: Steven Paston/PA 

Champion jockey Oisin Murphy has received a 15-day ban for repeated breaches of the whip rules.

Murphy, who secured his fifth title at the formal conclusion of the championship at Ascot last month, was referred to the British Horseracing Authority's judicial panel for a fast-track hearing after using his whip once above the permitted level on Gladius at Newmarket on October 11.

His was given a 15-day ban, five days of which are suspended for six months or 200 rides, with one day to be spent receiving coaching on his use of the whip.

Murphy was referred as this was his fourth whip offence in the last six months and judicial panel member Clement Goldstone KC was unmoved by Murphy's explanation that he had 'miscounted' his strikes.

He said: "As a very experienced and extremely able and skilful jockey, he must realise that 'miscounting' the number of occasions on which he used his whip is a very hollow and unattractive explanation, and may well not be accepted in relation to any further excessive use of the whip, and that further contraventions of the rule are likely to result in the imposition of longer periods of suspension."

The panel also sanctioned Sean Levey, who was given a 26-day ban, eight days of which are suspended, after also being referred under the 'totting up' rule for using his whip once above the permitted level on Crafty Blue at Southwell on September 29.

Goldstone issued a strongly-worded warning to the rider, saying: "As a very experienced and skilful jockey, he must realise that there will come a time when a judicial panel may well be driven to conclude that he either cannot or will not control his use of the whip in accordance with the rules and that only a long suspension, to be served in its entirety, can serve as an adequate punishment.

"He would be well advised to heed this warning."