CHAMPION jockey Oisin Murphy is banned from racing for two days this week – with the jockey admitting he 'wasn't thinking' during his rules breach.
Murphy, 25, has been in red-hot form as he fights to defend his title from William Buick and Tom Marquand.
Truth be told, after riding a winner on every day of last week for 16 in all across seven days, Murphy looks uncatchable at the top of the table on 93 victories at the time of writing.
Buick and Marquand are second and third on 77 and 74 wins respectively.
But they might fancy their chances of making some ground on the Irishman, after he confirmed his enforced break.
Murphy, who is chasing his third straight title, told SunSport columnist and Sky Sports Racing presenter Matt Chapman about his impending pan.
He admitted he 'wasn't thinking' when he broke whip rules on Scampi at last month's Glorious Goodwood.
'FRUSTRATING'
The Andrew Balding-trained horse finished third at 13-2, just half a length behind winner Wink Of An Eye.
Murphy was suspended by stewards after he used the whip above the permitted level approaching the final furlong.
Pressed by Chapman if he thought he had wrapped up the jockeys' championship, Murphy insisted: "I need to have another few good weeks where I get on lots of fancied runs.
"I'm banned two days this coming week. It's frustrating.
"I hit a horse nine times at Goodwood."
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Asked why did he did that, Muprhy replied: "I wasn't thinking and that's really frustrating.
"I need to avoid those sorts of errors."
Murphy, who has on-course earnings of just under £3million this season, will miss racing on Friday and Saturday.
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