Born: 20 August 1974 Place of birth: Co Kildare Height/weight: 5ft 9"/10st First winner: 1993 Big-race wins: Irish Grand National, Hennessy Gold Cup 2003-04 winners: 57 2002-03 winners: 42 2001-02 winners: 98

He signed a retainer contract with champion owner David Johnson in 2004, a move which makes the jockey one of the main challengers to Tony McCoy, his predecessor as Johnson's number one.

It marks a change in fortunes for Murphy, whose career lay in tatters in 2002 when he was given a six-month prison sentence for indecent assault after a drink-fuelled incident on a plane.

It was the ultimate low in a turbulent career that began with Murphy working weekends for Cheltenham Gold Cup-winning trainer Noel Chance as a schoolboy.

Having been around horses all his life - his father was a former leading Irish amateur - it came as no surprise when he himself became Irish amateur champion.

After a spell under the guidance of Michael Hourigan, Murphy moved across the Irish Sea to Kim Bailey's yard.

He was dismissed for poor time-keeping, went on to become Paul Nicholls' stable jockey, lost his job not just once but twice and picked up two drink-driving convictions.

There was trouble on the track as well, a 30-day ban for persistent whip offences causing him to miss a winning ride on See More Business in the King George VI in 1997.

When the partnership was reunited for the Gold Cup the following March, the horse was carried out of the race.

Despite his personal troubles and his numerous run-ins with stewards, trainers like Nicholls, Hourigan and Mark Pitman continued to employ him and many regard him as the best chase rider in the business.