MURPHY COY AFTER CROWNING
OISIN MURPHY refused to discuss his alleged fight in a Newmarket pub last Thursday after being crowned champion Flat jockey for the third successive time at Ascot yesterday.
Following Murphy’s altercation, he failed a breath test for alcohol the following day and was stood down from his rides at Newmarket.
But Murphy, who finally beat William Buick for the title by two winners, did admit he needs to improve his behaviour.
“I need to deal with the bad days better and not turn to alcohol to delete those days,” he said. “As a professional jockey, better is expected.” However, he refused to elaborate as to how he will deal with his problem.
He added: “My ambition when you open the papers tomorrow is that it focuses on the equine performances.
“I’m trying to ride winners and win another jockeys’ championship.
“Horses are my life – I’m never happier than when I’m on the back of a horse.
“It’s been the hardest championship to win, especially in the last two weeks.”
Murphy, 26, continues to have the support of Sheikh Fahad, his principal retainer and the supporter of yesterday’s £4,091,250 Qipco Champions’ Day at Ascot.
“Oisin is a young man who we’ve known him since he was 17 and he is still growing and developing as a man,” said Fahad.
“Clearly there are things that have happened in recent times that he has regrets about and will work hard to put right.
“But we all make mistakes.
“I’ve no doubt that when the pressure of Champions’ Day is out of the way, there will be changes made to his lifestyle and he is going to look very hard at that.”