Racing: Murphy back on track after serving sentence

After spending 84 days in Wormwood Scrubs prison, Timmy Murphy found life on the outside tough yesterday when Mick Fitzgerald, who had stood as a character witness for his fellow jockey in court, denied Murphy a victory on his first ride since his release.

Murphy rode the Mark Pitman-trained Fireball Macnamara into second behind the Fitzgerald-partnered Epervier D'Or in a novices' chase at Wetherby and showed he has not lost his touch when keeping the partnership intact when his mount blundered at the fifth last.

"I will improve for the outing," Murphy said, "but I feel pretty fit and have done a lot of riding in the past week. It is nice to come back and get round and get your confidence back. Confidence is the main thing."

The jockey was released last week after serving almost half of a six-month sentence for indecently assaulting a flight attendant and being drunk on board an aircraft but, despite his offence, has retained patronage and has a decent book of rides at Ascot today.

Pitman said: "Timmy has ridden a lot of winners for me, including a Hennessy, and we have had a very successful association. He is a great talent and a top jockey and the thing now is to put everything behind him. He has paid his penalty and it is time to look forward. He will be riding for me as usual."

* Brighton's card yesterday was abandoned after two races due to fog. The clerk of the course, Geoff Stickels, said: "Visibility went down to less than half a furlong and the rule says you have to be able to see the furlong marker."