Murphy the man in form

OLLY MURPHY continued the flying start he has made to his training career with an across-the-card four-timer yesterday.

The 25-year-old, who spent fours years as assistant to Gordon Elliott, struck gold with his very first runner when Dove Mountain won at Brighton at the start of the month and has had several other winners since.

Murphy watched on from Stratford as Knight Commander landed the opening Racing Partnership TRP Novices’ Handicap Hurdle at Newton Abbot under champion jockey Richard Johnson.

He then had a hat-trick in Warwickshire as Cliffside Park (11-8) landed the seller, Skilled (11-8) won the Novices’ Handicap Chase and 10-1 shot Mizen Master took the Debenhams Handicap Hurdle. OPEN EAGLE, one of Willie Mullins’ market leaders for the Ebor at York next month, has injured a foreleg and will be out of action for the forseeable future.