Murtagh set for return to action

Bohermeen jockey Johnny Murtagh, sideline since last month following a fall at The Curragh, could return to action this week. The Meath jockey was in the limelight last week after it emerged that he would no longer ride for the Aga Khan although he will continue to ride for trainer John Oxx. The Meath jockey won the Prix de Diane for the Aga Khan in June with 25/1 chance Valyra which was fatally injured in France on Wednesday of last week. Murtagh's contract to ride the Aga Khan's Irish-based horses was terminated last Thursday, but the Bohermeen man will still ride for Oxx who has a long association with the Aga Khan. Murtagh won the Irish Derby, Epsom Derby and Arc for the Aga Khan with the Oxx-trained Sinndar in 2000 and continued to ride many high class winners until he moved to Ballydoyle for a short stint as top jockey there. If Murtagh returns to action this week it is anticipated that he will partner the Oxx-trained Born To Sea in Saturday's Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown. "All being well, he will be riding Born To Sea on Saturday and he will ride our horses for other owners for the remainder of the year, where appropriate," said Oxx. "He was not retained by anybody other than the Aga Khan, so he is effectively a freelance now," added the trainer.