by Graeme Rodway
Olly Murphy’s Warren Chase operation has come a long way in a short space of time with last season bringing a first top-level victory with Itchy Feet in the Scilly Isles Novices‘ Chase.
Add Ryanair Chase hope Brewin’upastorm, potential Stayers‘ Hurdle contender Thomas Darby and a glut of exciting novice hurdlers, including Champagnesuperover, Jetaway Joey and Plenty In The Tank, and there’s enough to suggest another Grade 1 success won’t be far away.
There may well be some future stars in the bumper ranks, in which Murphy boasts a 23 per cent strike-rate since starting training in 2017 and has around 40 horses for this campaign.
Murphy, an ambassador for Betfair, said: „We had a good season and it was massive to train my first Grade 1 winner. We have a lot of young horses but we’re slowly starting to have a few more established horses and it would be great to have Thomas Darby, Brewin’upastorm and Itchy Feet contesting proper top-level races, along with some nice novices coming through.
„There’s loads to look forward to and I’ve been very well supported by some great people.“
Aidan Coleman is Murphy’s new stable jockey, while it is worth noting Adrian Heskin’s mounts on Max McNeill-owned horses as he boasts a 45 per cent strike-rate (17-38) when teaming up with Murphy.
Rival to watch
Shan Blue was very impressive for Dan Skelton on his chase debut at Wetherby earlier this month. He looked really smart.
Race in focus
The Tolworth and Challow are two top-level races I’d love to think I might have a nice horse to run in and Champagnesuperover would be among the possibles.
Stable profile
Yard Warren
Chase Stables
Where Wilmcote, Stratford-upon-Avon
Started training July 4, 2017
Horses in yard 120
Members of staff 40
Assistant trainer Ger Tumelty
Head lad Martin Devenney
Head girl Sarah Tumelty
Travelling head staff Charlotte Best, Jordan Dorward
Racing manager Camilla Cotton
Jockeys Aidan Coleman, Richard Johnson, David England, Adrian
Heskin, Gavin Sheehan
Conditionals Fergus Gregory, Lewis Stones, Callum McKinnes
Amateurs James King, Ceris Biddle, Dara McGill, Luke Scott, Solly
Wood, Toby Steele
Stable sponsor McCoy Contractors
Website www.ollymurphyracing.com
Twitter @O_J_murphy91
Winners in Britain
2019-20 67
2018-19 82
2017-18 47
Profit/loss to £1 stake
2019-20 -£68.87
2018-19 -£93.06
2017-18 -£61.39
Total prize-money
2019-20 £613,394
Horses:
| A | B | C | E | F | G | H | I | J | L | N | P | S | T |
Alpha Carinae
Five-year-old mare
Robin Des Champs (sire) – Annas Present (dam)
Owner: Tim Syder
Form figures: 11-12
Racing Post Rating: 123h 103b Official Rating: 122h
It was a tactical race when she was second at Market Rasen and that didn’t suit. She’s a really nice, athletic mare, a strong stayer, and could well pick up some black type.
Blazer’s Mill
6g Westerner – Creation
Ms J A Wakefield
2/1/4P-1
RPR 123h OR 126h
He was impressive at Perth and it looked a good race for the time of year. He’s always galloped like a smart horse and I’ve just been getting him all wrong. He’s a two-miler with loads of speed and could win a nice handicap.
Brewin’upastorm
7g Milan – Daraheen Diamond
Mrs Barbara Hester
42/11U-
RPR 158c OR 150c
He’s set for the Colin Parker at Carlisle on Sunday and I’m looking forward to him going up in trip. He’s going to have to step up from his novice chase campaign but I don’t see any reason why he won’t. I’ve always had a lot of belief in him and the Ryanair is a long-term aim.
Champagnesuperover
5g Jeremy – Meldrum Hall
McNeill Family & Patrick and Scott Bryceland
13-
RPR 111b
I love him and he’ll be in his element over fences in the future. He handles soft ground very well and makes his hurdling debut at Stratford on Thursday. I’m hoping he’s going to be a nice Graded horse this season and the Tolworth or Challow could suit him well if there was ease in the ground.
Endlessly
5g Nathaniel – What’s Up Pussycat
Raymond Treacy
511-8
RPR 118h OR 123h
He was badly hampered when making a move at Cheltenham on Saturday and probably would have finished in the first four otherwise. We’ll look for a handicap on a big galloping track on soft ground and he could be well handicapped under both codes.
Enemy Coast Ahead
6g Malinas – Penang Princess
McNeill Family
1/2-111
RPR 131h OR 129h
I’ve given him a mid-winter break after a good summer and he has to have good ground. His mark looks reasonable and he could be one for the Lanzarote if the ground isn’t too soft.
Dark horse
Fearless
5g Arakan – La Spezia
Tim Syder & Dominic Burke
15/3U1-2
RPR 125h OR 122h
I was amazed he was beaten at Fontwell on his return but he does everything easily at home and took a blow after. He has entries on Saturday, looks to have a nice mark, works well and will give his owners plenty of fun.
Finawn Bawn
7g Robin Des Champs – Kayanti
Lf Infrastructure Ltd
13131/3-
RPR 133c OR 133c
He should be back around Christmas and his sole chase run at Chepstow reads very well. A tendon injury curtailed his last campaign but I think a lot of him and if we can get him back firing he’ll be contesting some nice novice chases.
Grandads Cottage
5g Shantou – Sarah’s Cottage
John Hales
1/32-5
RPR 109b
He was unlucky not to win a bumper last season but I was very disappointed with his hurdling debut at Carlisle last week. Nothing came to light but he’s an awful lot better than that and the form of his point-to-point win is strong.
Here Comes McCoy
5g Dylan Thomas – Is It Here
C J Haughey
1-4
RPR 110b
He got a fright early on at Uttoxeter and I hadn’t got him on grass before then – he’s much better than that. He wants two and a half miles and plenty of cut and I still think a lot of him.
Hunters Call
10g Medaaly – Accordiontogelica
Holloway, Clarke, Black
531/14
RPR 138h OR 137h
He’s been a star and ran a cracker in the Galway Hurdle where things didn’t go right. He’s going for the Greatwood Hurdle next month and soft ground would be ideal. He’s well capable of winning another nice race.
I K Brunel
6g Midnight Legend – Somethinaboutmolly
McNeill Family & Prodec Networks Ltd
6/1841-2
RPR 137c OR 139c
I was delighted with his chase debut at Fontwell and wouldn’t be surprised if he turns out to be a Graded horse. He’s just going to keep improving.
Star quality
Itchy Feet
6g Cima De Triomphe – Maeva Candas
Kate & Andrew Brooks
411U-3
RPR 160c OR 154c
He’s a horse close to my heart on what he’s achieved so far and ran well in the Old Roan on Sunday. They went very steady, which didn’t suit, but he jumped well and will be favoured by a greater test of stamina. I haven’t lost any faith in him. There’s a good race in him and we may look at the Caspian Caviar Gold Cup.
Jetaway Joey
5g Getaway – Present Your Own
Mrs Barbara Hester
21-2
RPR 115h
He’s an exciting prospect and has done well for a break. He had a right good blow after his return at Carlisle and will come on a bundle. He would be up there with our nicest novice hurdlers and will take a lot of beating on his next start.
Linelee King
5g Martaline – Queen Lee
Mrs Diana L Whateley
1/210-1
RPR 109h
Kelso was a nice starting point for him and we’ll be stepping him up in trip on a big galloping track. He’s a good work horse and well above average.
Nickolson
6g No Risk At All – Incorrigible
Tim Syder
1/12-2
RPR 131h OR 135h
I was happy with his return at Carlisle and we’ll probably head to Newbury for the Gerry Feilden. He has a big engine but very little experience, so we’ll take our time with him. I think the world of him.
Plenty In The Tank
5g Champs Elysees – Lunathea
Mrs Diana L Whateley
1-
RPR 105b
We bought him after he beat Linelee King in a Chepstow bumper and he works like a good horse. He’s very forward-going and starts off over hurdles at Fakenham on Wednesday. He needs to relax but is potentially smart.
Port Of Mars
6g Westerner – Sarahall
Noel and Valerie Moran
1/213-
RPR 129h OR 131h
He’ll go novice chasing but came in a bit later so won’t be seen for another month. He wants slow ground and should be a nice staying chaser.
Sangha River
7g Arcadio – Hidden Reserve
Mrs Barbara Hester
12/1123
RPR 128h OR 132h
He ran very well when third in a Listed novice hurdle at Kempton last time and will go over fences now. He has loads of ability and should be a nice two-mile novice chaser. He has to have good ground and will have a mid-season break.
Skandiburg
6g Sageburg – Skandia
Kate & Andrew Brooks
1/2110-4
RPR 138h OR 138h
He got a fright around Fakenham on his chase debut but he’s a staying chaser for the future. He wears his heart on his sleeve and I like him a lot. The National Hunt Chase could be a long-term aim.
Strong Glance
7g Passing Glance – Strong Westerner
Welfordgolf Syndicate
5/212-32
RPR 132h OR 129h
He ran a cracker at Aintree on Sunday when stepped back up to two and a half miles and is going the right way. He goes to Cheltenham for either the intermediate hurdle or Greatwood at the November meeting.
The Butcher Said
7g Robin Des Champs – Georgina Valleya
McNeill Family
252-121
RPR 146c OR 139c
He’s been fantastic, winning six times and never running a bad race. He’ll probably go for a novice chase at Cheltenham’s Paddy Power meeting next month. He’s better than his last run at Bangor as he was a little bit flat and the better the ground, the better he is.
The Wolf
6g Kapgarde – Ges
McNeill Family & Prodec Networks Ltd
4217-21
RPR 135h OR 135h/c
It was a tactical two-runner hurdle he was beaten in on his return but I was absolutely delighted with his chase debut win at Chepstow on Tuesday. I was half questioning his attitude over hurdles but the fences have definitely made a man of him and he jumped immaculately. I’d be inclined to go small with him next time – he has an attractive mark we could look to exploit.
Thomas Darby
7g Beneficial – Silaoce
Mrs Diana L Whateley
2/2313-
RPR 157h OR 157h
He’s in great nick and goes to Aintree for a conditions hurdle on Saturday week. If he runs well we may take the Stayers‘ Hurdle route. He’s not the most consistent but has so much ability and on his day he’s very good. The best is still to come.
Bumper horses
We have around 40 bumper horses with a lot of four-year-olds and plenty of five-year-olds who didn’t get a run in the spring. Italian Spirit (4g Fame And Glory – Coco Milan), Fletch (5g Kayf Tara – Oeuvre Vive), Tamar Bridge and Washington look nice prospects. Restandbethankful (4g Califet – Persian Forest) won on his debut at Perth, shows plenty of speed and may go for another bumper. I really like No Risk Des Flos (5g No Risk At All – Marie Royale), who finished third at Carlisle, while Chosen Port (4f Well Chosen – Despute) is really nice and will start off in a mares‘ bumper. Allavina (5m Getaway – One Cool Kate) looked smart when winning at Market Rasen and will run in the mares‘ Listed race at Cheltenham next month before going hurdling. Ripper Roo (5g Smadoun – Sninfia) is another who will have a bumper run before hurdling – he bolted up in a decent point-to-point for Charlie Poste and Fran Nimmo, has been bought by Deva Racing and does everything nicely.
Two for the tracker
I’ll go for two novice hurdlers in Jetaway Joey, who I hope can take high order, and Plenty In The Tank. He works like a very nice horse.
Expert view
Itchy Feet looked like he could be the first real superstar for the Olly Murphy team when running away with the Scilly Isles at Sandown last season, but it all went wrong when he unseated rider Gavin Sheehan at Cheltenham and he was a bit disappointing on Sunday.
He returned from his summer break in the Old Roan at Aintree but looked an awkward ride for new stable jockey Aidan Coleman, who appeared to be struggling to get his mount organised to challenge. The pair were well held by Nuts Well, who was giving weight.
Itchy Feet isn’t going to be the top-class performer he looked judged purely on that form, but it’s probably wrong to assess him too harshly on that return and he looks like he might be better suited by going right-handed anyway. Maybe he can return to his best when switched to a clockwise circuit. The trainer has nominated the Caspian Caviar Gold Cup at Cheltenham as a possible target, though, so he evidently doesn’t agree with that assessment. Coleman might not have been able to get it done on Itchy Feet on Sunday, but there’s no doubt he is among the best riders in Britain and his addition as stable jockey certainly looks a bit of a coup. The association has the potential to propel the Murphy yard to better things.
