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Whip suspension forces Oisin Murphy to miss Newmarket’s Craven meeting

3 minute read

Oisin Murphy will miss the three-day Craven meeting having been found guilty of breaching the whip rules at Newcastle on Good Friday.

Oisin Murphy secured his first Leading Jockey title at Royal Ascot with five victories. Picture: Press Photo

The three-time champion jockey was found to use his whip once more than the permitted level of six strikes when partnering John and Thady Gosden's Vaguely Royal to finish fifth in the BetUK All-Weather Championships Marathon Handicap.

Murphy's initial four-day suspension was doubled to eight due to the value of the Good Friday contest but has subsequently been reduced to six in recognition of previous good conduct.

"I've picked up a six-day suspension for one strike too many on Vaguely Royal on Good Friday when finishing fifth in the Marathon," Murphy explained on X, formerly known as Twitter.

"This was a genuine mistake, and I didn't purposely use my whip once more than permitted. As the race was worth £150k total prize money, my suspension should've been eight days but the fact I've not been suspended for a whip breach in over 200 rides, it's been reduced by two days.

"Had I committed the same breach in the Listed Burradon Stakes on the card when finishing a narrowly-beaten second, I would be facing a two-day ban. I will miss April 12,13,15,16,17,18. The entire Craven meeting."