Murphy Faces Lengthy Ban

Timmy Murphy has had a 20-day ban for ?schooling in public' increased by a day on appeal at a British Horseracing Authority disciplinary panel hearing.

Murphy's punishment runs from November 20 to December 10, meaning he misses both the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup meeting at Newbury and the Tingle Creek fixture at Sandown.

Although his 17-day ban for the offence was cut to 14, his suspension for it being a second offence within 24 months was increased from three to seven days.

However, trainer Nick Gifford was partially successful when the pair faced the panel over the running of Ashleys Petale at Fontwell last Friday. His #4,000 fine was reduced to #3,000.

Both had appealed against the level of penalty imposed.

Ashleys Petale finished sixth in the AYH plc Mares' Only Intermediate Open National Hunt Flat Race, some 27 lengths behind the winner. The horse is still suspended from running for 40 days.

Murphy and Gifford, who had their deposits returned, were represented by solicitor Rory Mac Neice.

He said: 'Timmy appealed against the 17 days as he felt it was too harsh and it was reduced to 14, but the panel increased the three days to seven, although he did not appeal that element of that penalty.

'Timmy was in a very difficult position. He was riding a filly that needed to be ridden as he rode it in his calculations, and he is extremely experienced, to obtain the best possible position.

'The difficulty for Timmy is that the rules stipulate a horse has to be ridden in a certain way.

'Whilst the film demonstrates the filly did finish in the best possible position, the panel found Timmy did not ride in accordance with the rules to achieve that.

'A rider is in difficulties in fulfilling his obligation under the rules if he has to give a horse a sympathetic ride.

'If ever a young rider wanted an example of how to settle a free-running, inexperienced horse, that race at Fontwell was as good as an example as you would ever want to see.

'It is an extremely difficult issue for the rider and for the regulator and the rule may benefit from having another look.'

The panel increased Murphy's penalty as they felt he had ignored the advice given when Murphy appealed against his Go Commercial suspension in September 2006.

Murphy had that ban cut from 14 days to 10.

(C) PA Sport