AFTER breaking Covid rules, deliberately misleading bosses and failing breathalyser tests – the jockey most likely to fill the hole left by Frankie Dettori is finally back.
Oisin Murphy was banned for 14 months and fined more than £30,000 after the BHA found him guilty of several charges.
Murphy is beginning his long walk back to the top of horse racingGetty
But he will be free to ride again a week from now (February 16) after getting his licence back.
The BHA said Murphy will be subject to an ‘enhanced testing regime’ and must ‘remain sober and avoid the use of any illicit or social drugs’ as conditions for being able to race again.
Murphy was previously banned for testing positive for cocaine but got it reduced on account of a sexual contact defence.
On February 25 Murphy, arguably the only jockey since Dettori to match him for personality and flair, could land one of the biggest paydays of his career.
The 27-year-old Irishman looks set to ride George Boughey’s Missed The Cut in the £1.3million Neom Turf Cup in Riyadh.
The Group 3 contest is part of the Saudi Cup undercard – the world’s richest race worth £16m.
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Trainer Boughey said he could have given Ryan Moore or William Buick the ride.
But explaining the decision to pick Murphy, he said: “Oisin Murphy currently will ride the horse.
“It’s taken quite a lot of brainpower throughout his career so far, he’s had a number of jockeys and I think a horse like him probably deserves to have a jockey that’s going to try and ride him wherever possible.
“I had a long chat to Oisin at the back end of last year when we were trying to make a plan for him.
“William Buick and Ryan Moore traditionally ride mine whenever they can but I think, at their own admission, they won’t be able to ride him come the summer.
“They both were available to ride him in Saudi but we’re just prolonging the inevitable and I want someone who is going to be able to create a bond with the horse.
“Oisin is obviously a fantastic rider and I’m delighted to have him on board.
“He’s ridden at Newmarket and he went to Chelmsford the other morning, his work has been pretty good and there are few better men to know what a top class horse looks like than Oisin.”
You can’t have the redemption without the downfall – maybe this will be the start of Murphy’s.
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