Murphy makes most of marathon trip to Ayr with fine treble
Trainer Olly Murphy made the 650-mile round trip from his Warwickshire base pay off by saddling a treble.
First up was Miles To Milan, a 6-4 chance, in the Book Direct At Western House Hotel Beginners Chase. Jockey Aidan Coleman settled him in the back and he got the better of odds-on favourite Clondaw Kaempfer in the home straight to win by a comfortable length and a quarter.
The Coleman -Murphy combination doubled up with Weebill (5-6 Fav) landing the Get Daily Tips at Racinguk. com Novices Hurdle by seven lengths from Bialco.
The hat-trick was completed for both trainer and jockey when Finawn Bawn won the concluding national hunt flat race at odds of 9-4.
Brian Hughes, named earlier in the day as the new No 1 rider for the powerful Donald Mccain stable, celebrated by riding a double yesterday.
He gave Return Ticket (11-10 Fav) an ultra-confident ride in Division One off the Book Now for the Scottish Sun Raceday Maiden Hurdle to win comfortably and then followed up in division two of the maiden hurdle on 20-1 shot Shankill Castle for trainer Mike Smith.
Mike said afterwards: “Brian is the best jockey in the north if not the whole of the UK. I’ll use him when he’s available and I hope I can help him be champion jockey one day.”
The opening race on the card a two-mile five furlong handicap hurdle was won by Final Reminder (10-1) for Fife trainer Nick Alexander and jockey Grant Cockburn.
At Thirsk today, Lucky Deal can get his season off to a winning start in the Subscribe To Racing UK On Youtube Novice Stakes.
Trainer Mark Johnston thinks enough of this colt to have given him a long-range entry in the Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot, so this 12-furlong heat could well be the springboard to much better days.
This son of Mastercraftsman made a late start to his juvenile campaign, running very green on his debut over nine furlongs at Redcar in October.
He was all at sea in finishing third that day, but the experience was a benefit as he went on to score over a furlong further on the Chelmsford allweather in November. The form of that win is probably nothing special, but the second was a previous winner for John Gosden and Lucky Deal impressed in making every yard for a two-length verdict. He shaped like a strong stayer that day and steps up in trip again here.
Feathery lost out by just a head last time but can gain compensation in the Watch Racing UK In Stunning HD Fillies’ Handicap.
Charlie Fellowes’ charge is still a maiden after nine runs but her recent Nottingham effort suggests she does have a race such as this in her.
Having been dropped back to seven furlongs when disappointing at Doncaster in March, switching back up to a mile showed her in a much better light as she just had to concede to a better-treated rival. The handicapper has left her alone and she can take advantage off a perch of 78.