RACING: Johnny Murtagh enjoyed a mainly successful day at a meeting of the Appeals and Referrals Committee of the Turf Club yesterday, moving within one winner of leader Michael Kinane in the jockeys' championship.

The committee decided to disqualify the Kevin Prendergast-trained Kurbaan following his win in a maiden at Leopardstown in August after a prohibited substance was found in his urine and, as a result of the ban, the second horse Akash, ridden by Murtagh, was promoted to first.

Murtagh also enjoyed some success in his appeal against a two-day ban for careless riding following the running of the Korean Racing Association Handicap at the Curragh on October 13th. After hearing evidence, the stewards dismissed the appeal by Murtagh but in view of his good record reduced his suspension from two days to one, meaning he is free to ride on Saturday, Breeders' Cup day, although he is expected to ride at Leopardstown.

However, he was not so fortunate as the stewards dismissed trainer John Oxx's appeal following the running of a Listowel race in which Millstreet, trained by Oxx and ridden by Murtagh, finished second behind Sorcerous.