Murtagh was found guilty of careless riding fter partnering Miss Brush to win at Lingfield Park last week.

The local stewards decided that he had caused interference in the early stages having cut across to the rails from his high draw and gave him the ban, which was due to begin on Derby Day.

However, Murtagh contested the decision and after a hearing of the Jockey Club’s disciplinary panel, which lasted about an hour and a quarter, the punishment was reduced after the panel threw out one of the two counts of interference of which he had been found guilty.

Under Jockey Club rules, a suspension of two days or less is automatically deferred if clashing with a Group One race in Britain so the rider’s ban now starts the day after the Derby.

Murtagh’s case was aided by the evidence of weighing-room colleagues Paul Doe and Frankie McDonald, who both played down the seriousness of the interference they received on the day as they gave evidence today.

And although the panel took some time to agree upon the reduction of the penalty, Murtagh lifted his eyes to the skies in relief when called back in to hear that his ban had been reduced.

Before making a hasty exit to a waiting car in order to race to Nottingham for his booked rides, he said: “Getting it reduced to two days is a big relief.

“I suppose it has been on my mind a lot. Even though you are trying to think about other things it’s there hanging over you.

“I’m just glad it’s all over and glad with the decision.

“I’m really looking forward to the build-up and the race now. The horse is in good form and he must have a great chance.

“It’s the biggest race of the year for a jockey and now I can look forward to it.

“In a way I suppose it has added to the spice of the story – there’s been a lot of talk about the horse and about this thing. It would be great to end it all by winning the race now.”

Darryll Holland had been lined up to take over the ride on the Michael Bell-trained Motivator had Murtagh’s ban stood.

A planned getting-to-know-you session between horse and rider tomorrow morning has now understandably been shelved but Holland’s pill has been sweetened by the offer to ride Motivator’s stablemate Higher Love in the Vodafone Oaks.

And the rider could also step into the breach aboard one of the Ballydoyle-trained outsiders with Christophe Soumillon required to stay at home and ride at Chantilly having initially been pencilled in by Aidan O’Brien.

Upon hearing the news that Murtagh’s ban had been reduced, Bell said: “Thank God justice has been done and I’m sure Johnny is mightily relieved.

“With no disrespect to Darryll, Johnny was always the man we wanted and it’s fantastic news he can ride.”

Motivator is owned by The Royal Ascot Racing Club and they also welcomed the news.

Racing manager Harry Herbert said: “I’m absolutely delighted. Johnny Murtagh, apart from being a world-class jockey, has spent a tremendous amount of time and effort in working with Michael Bell and his team with Motivator and it’s only just that he should be there to partner the horse on Saturday.

“Everyone connected with the horse is absolutely thrilled and we can look forward to the day now that all the pieces of the jigsaw are in place.”

During the course of today’s hearing, the layout of the five-furlong course at Lingfield came in for considerable criticism.

Giving evidence, Doe said: “I am just so used to this sort of thing happening at Lingfield, especially on inexperienced two-year-olds.

“When you race over five furlongs you only go 100-odd yards before you’re going round what is virtually a hairpin bend.

“You’re in the lap of the gods really and I’ve seen countless incidents around that bend.”

McDonald added: “Horses drawn one to three actually have to take a right turn before the bend or they’d never get round it as it’s so tight.”