Leading trainer Ferdy Murphy was yesterday fined £4,000 by the Jockey Club for comments made on the BBC programme 'Kenyon Confronts' this year.

A disciplinary committee inquiry ruled that West Witton-based Murphy had breached Rule 220(iii) in that he had ''acted in a manner which was prejudicial to the good reputation of horseracing in Great Britain''.

Hidden camera footage used in the programme showed Murphy indicating to reporters - purporting to be potential owners - ''that if they put a horse in training with him he would be prepared not to run the horse on its merits to enable them to subsequently back it at favourable odds''.

Murphy was also apparently seen claiming that a horse in his training had been laid to win money on a betting exchange.

But speaking yesterday after the hearing, Murphy denied that he had taken part in any of the activities suggested in the programme.

''I've never had a bet with Betfair - I don't even have an account,'' he said.

''It was just a chap, who happened to be in the owner's office at the time, and was trying to impress the owner.

''The horse broke down in the race and hasn't raced since. I thought he actually might run well.

''I never had any intention of carrying out what was said on the film. I was trying to sell a horse to what I thought were potential owners.

''I have come here today and put my hands up rather than get involved in a prolonged battle with the Jockey Club.

''These people came to me with an agenda - they were after a story. They wanted to know about stopping horses and they kept pushing and moving the goalposts a little bit.

''I actually advised them that if they bought a horse the time to back it was first time out.

''I am embarrassed for myself but the margins for a trainer are very tight financially and you are always having to think about a sale.''

Murphy said he was ''very disappointed'' with the level of the punishment.

His fine set a benchmark for fellow trainers Jamie Osborne and David Wintle, who both face similar charges at Portman Square early in the New Year arising from the same programme.

The last person to be penalised under the same rule was telephone tipster Cliff Woof, who was fined £1,500 in July 2000.

''It is disappointing but I have had a great deal of support from all of my owners and I haven't lost a single horse as a result - in fact, I've actually got a couple more,'' Murphy said.

His barrister, Rory Macniece, explained that no allegations concerning specific bets were ever put to Murphy during the hearing.

Macniece said: ''The Jocky Club asked for and received all of his betting accounts and there was no allegation at any point that Ferdy had placed a bet on Betfair.

''The horse that he was trying to sell to them, Chicago Breeze, had placed form in Ireland and he advised them that the time to back it was first time out.

''She also had value as a broodmare prospect and he advocated this as a completely legitimate method of making money and achieving their aims.''

Unsurprisingly, Murphy condemned the use of hidden cameras and said: ''I've said before that everyone has at least ten conversations a day that they wouldn't want broadcast.

''It's not a very nice feeling to be had like that.''

He had been hoping that the recent resignation of Jockey Club security chief Jeremy Phipps as a result of making equally ill-advised comments on a secret recording for BBC's Panorama programme would count in his favour.

But John Maxse, the director of public relations at the Jockey Club, said he thought it unlikely that Murphy's punishment had been affected by the incident with Phipps.

''I have a lot of sympathy for people who are caught out by any kind of covert filming,'' he said. ''It can cause a lot of embarrassment."