Murtagh joins Loder The former champion jockey Johnny Murtagh will ride for the top Newmarket trainer David Loder in the upcoming flat season. Murtagh confirmed the arrangement yesterday but stressed that he will also continue to ride in Ireland as a freelance.Murtagh lost his job as stable jockey to John Oxx when Michael Kinane took over at the end of last season after leaving Aidan O´Brien´s Ballydoyle yard. Jamie Spencer has taken over there and his moving had left a vacancy at Loder´s. Speculation had grown in recent weeks that Murtagh was in line for the job and he confirmed the link up.'I will continue to be based in Ireland but I have agreed with Mr Loder that I will ride for him when available,' Murtagh said.Weight difficulties have plagued the jockey who has won two Epsom Derbys and a Prix de l´Arc de Triomphe in the last four seasons but his agent said yesterday that that problem is under control.'John has been going very well and his weight is good. H
