RACING/Royal Ascot: Johnny Murtagh will miss the second day of Royal Ascot as well as six meetings in Ireland after getting caught out aboard the hot favourite Mirpour in the opening race at Naas yesterday.
Murtagh eased up his mount inside the final furlong, turning certain victory into defeat. He was jeered and heckled by angry punters after the 5 to 4 favourite was beaten three-quarters of a length by the 8 to 1 chance, Russian Comrade, in the Go Racing In Kildare Handicap.
He had made the running and he looked around twice in the closing stages but according to his evidence did not spot Russian Comrade finishing well for apprentice Pat Cosgrave.
Murtagh "accepted full responsibility for getting beaten and admitted that, despite looking around for any challengers, he did not see the eventual winner who was racing directly behind him," according to the official report of the inquiry.
Murtagh was suspended for seven race days, starting tomorrow week, and forfeited his riding fee. In a similar incident the previous Monday Paul Carberry eased up on another favourite, Heart Midoltian, and was caught on the line in a hurdle race at Kilbeggan.
An hour after the Murtagh incident the Richard Hannon raider, Rag Top, took the €80,000 Swordlestown Stud Sprint Stakes in the hands of Dane O'Neill.
Meanwhile, today is D-Day for Michael Kinane as he is set to choose between Hawk Wing and High Chaparral for his Epsom Derby ride, reports Brian O'Connor.
Both colts are expected to work on the Ballydoyle gallops this morning, although Kinane will not ride either of them.
The general expectation is that he will choose to ride Hawk Wing and that helped the 2,000 Guineas runner-up to shorten even further to 11 to 8 favourite yesterday.
Murtagh, who won on Sinndar in 2000, is expected to step in for the ride on High Chaparral and the bookies believe it is odds-on there will be a third successive Irish-trained Derby winner.
Just 13 horses were left in the Derby at yesterday's acceptance stage and it is likely that Saturday's race will have the smallest field since Nijinksy beat 10 others in 1970.
O'Brien has also left in the Curragh maiden winner, Louisville, who will be ridden by Kieren Fallon. Godolphin also have three left in the Derby, with Frankie Dettori's mount Naheef joined by Moon Ballad and Dubai Destination.
