Murphy set to return

Timmy Murphy will return to the saddle at Stratford this weekend for the first time since he was arrested last month and charged with indecent assault on a flight from Japan.

The 27-year-old jump jockey was charged with indecently assaulting a woman flight attendant on a plane to Heathrow on April 14th after partnering Cenkos in the Nakayama Grand Jump.

He was bailed earlier this month at Uxbridge Magistrates Court and is due to reappear there on June 13th for a committal hearing to send the case to a Crown Court.

In a statement released to PA Sport hrough the Jockeys` Association today, Murphy said: 'I am pleased to be returning to riding and I am looking forward to building on last season`s best-ever total of 98 winners.

'During the past five weeks I have been receiving treatment for alcohol-related problems and I am very grateful to all those who have helped me to get back to a position where I feel confident to return to riding.

'I now recognise what I have to do inorder to cope with riding on a full-time basis and I hope to repay the support of those who are willing to grant me a chance to rebuild my career.

'I would like to thank everyone in racing who has supported me during the past weeks as I have been overwhelmed by their patience and understanding.

'I hope my riding will illustrate how much better I now feel and please understand that I cannot add to these thoughts until all other outstanding issues are resolved.'

Murphy has been riding out this week and his agent Chris Broad is finalising bookings for the jockey`s return.