Six-times champion jockey Kieren Fallon believes troubled Oisin Murphy can conquer his demons and successfully return to race riding.
The 26-year-old has temporarily relinquished his jockey’s licence while he seeks medical help for alcohol problems.
It follows two incidents of positive alcohol tests this year and an alleged breach of Covid protocols in September 2020.
Murphy had been due to appear before an independent disciplinary panel on December 10 for a breach of Covid protocols last September, but that has been postponed after submissions from his legal team regarding his welfare and his decision to relinquish his licence temporarily.
But Fallon, who successfully recovered from his own issues with alcohol, believes Murphy is doing the right thing by seeking the right sort of rehabilitation.
He said: “He will 100 per cent come out of it alright.
“When he sits down and has a good look at himself and the bad things that have happened, then you only realise.
““I don’t know him that well but he’s young and talented.
“I was like that. I didn’t see it, but I did when I went to rehab.
“You don’t see it until you take a step back and go to one of these places and sit down with your counsellor.
“Jockeys are 24/7 from 5am and sometimes get home in the evening at 11pm. It’s hard and often with long hours."
Fallon, now 56, admits it took him time to realise the foolishness of his ways.
But now he is enjoying life, helping his talented son Cieren in his riding career, and admits he has never missed a day riding out for champion trainer Charlie Appleby in Newmarket.
“Listen, I was lucky I had great jobs, you know,” he explained. “I made a lot of mistakes. If I wasn’t drinking, I would not have made those mistakes that I did.
“All I can do now is advise. I get quite a few of the younger jockeys ringing up.
“When you’re not drinking, you’re in a good place and in a good frame of mind.
“I could have been a lot better. I was only champion six times. I could have been champion every year if I was not doing what I was doing.”
Murphy may no longer have the appetite to retain the championship for a fourth time, something that he has hinted at, but if he sorts himself out there will not be a lack of support or the good horses to ride.
“What Oisin is saying is right,” added Fallon. “It will do him the world of good.
“Personally I have never seen him stupidly silly under the influence of alcohol and never seen him drunk.
“What happened in Newmarket (brawl in a pub the night before he tested positive for drink) when he was not allowed to ride was stupid. He knows that.”
Ironically, it will be Fallon’s son who will benefit from Murphy’s absence as he is number two rider, behind Murphy, for Sheikh Fahad’s racing operation.
