Murphy to make swift return after big scare at Salisbury

Champion jockey Oisin Murphy has told racingtv.com that he will be back riding at Ascot on Friday after escaping largely unhurt from a terrifying incident before racing at Salisbury on Thursday.

Murphy was aboard the Andrew Balding-trained Oasis Gift when the unraced two-year-old got spooked and took off in the paddock. Murphy did his best to hang on before being deposited head first into plastic railings.

The two-time champion jockey, leading William Buick by ten in a prolonged battle for this year’s championship, was clearly shaken but walked slowly into an ambulance.

Balding reported that Murphy had suffered a nasty split lip, but that he had been able to talk freely to those concerned for his wellbeing.

He was taken to hospital for treatment and later told racingtv.com that he was "fine" after having stitches in his lip and face. "I've got no other problems and will be back tomorrow," he said.

“All is good. I’ll be back tomorrow at Ascot, the championship is important to me.” The 26-year-old has five rides at the Berkshire track.

Oasis Gift continued to gallop loose for a time before being caught. He was unscathed.

Murphy will ride Chrono Genesis, a general 10-1 chance, in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe on Sunday. There are high hopes that the mare will provide Japan with a treasured first big win in the showpiece.

Murphy rode her in a gallop in Chantilly on Wednesday morning before returning to ride in Britain last night.

The potents, bizarrely, may be encouraging. The dam of Oasis Gift, Siren’s Gift, did something similar on her intended debut at Bath in 2006, leaving jockey Martin Dwyer at the centre of an injury scare the night before his Derby win on Sir Percy.

There was also drama at Clonmel, where Davy Russell won aboard the maiden hurdle on the Gordon Elliott-trained Perfect Attitude after almost being dislodged mid-race.

Russell was sliding out of the saddle, after becoming short of room after a jump, when using the backside of a rival horse to get himself vertical again.

It was an amazing bit of quick thinking by the two-time Grand National-winning rider, who only returned from the saddle this month after nearly a year off because of serious injury.