Murphy’s €2,000 fine confirmed

COLM MURPHY, formerly one of Ireland’s leading trainers and winner of Champion Hurdle (2006) and Champion Chase (2010) titles at Cheltenham with Brave Inca and Big Zeb, before quitting and taking up a post with the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (I.H.R.B.), failed in an appeal against a €2,000 ‘non-trier’ fine by his former employers on Friday.

Murphy was one of many racing victims of Ireland’s financial and economic meltdown and quit training in 2016 when it became too difficult to make it pay, and had served 18 months working with the I.H.R.B. before returning to training at his Killena, Ballycanew, stables last year.

The run by his All About Joe at Fairyhouse on New Year’s Day led to a stewards’ inquiry which resulted in a ten-day ban for jockey, Mark McDonagh, a 42-day ban for the horse, and a €2,000 fine for trainer Murphy, which was confirmed at Friday’s appeal hearing.

He told ‘The Irish Times’ afterwards that he wasn’t surprised at the outcome but was satisfied he had got his version of events on the I.H.R.B’s record after what he said was ‘miscommunication’ at the original hearing.

He was not at Fairyhouse on the day of the race but his jockey, McDonagh, told the inquiry he rode according to his instructions, and this was supported by Murphy’s representative on the day, Patrick Sinnott.

However, the trainer felt compelled to appeal. ‘The riding instructions that the jockey said to the stewards on the day, and which were confirmed by my representative, were not the riding instructions I gave him.’

Murphy said he was unhappy with his jockey’s ride but ‘what was said by the representative on the day is what was taken into account.

‘But at least my record is on account now with the I.H.R.B. which I was adamant on getting done.

‘I can understand in the stewards’ room how intimidating it is for people who would never have been there before and aren’t used to that environment, especially with High Court judges sitting in front of you who are so used to the day-to-day running of it.

‘Stuff can be said in there that isn’t meant to be said. I wanted the appeal to hear my side of what actually did happen.

‘They weren’t my instructions on the day and ultimately it was miscommunication,’ Murphy said.