In-Form Olly Murphy Bids For 34/1 Newcastle Raid!

If his New Year’s resolution was to train more winners, Olly Murphy has certainly achieved that, with the Warwickshire-based Murphy training fourteen winners from his thirty-five runners since the start of January – resulting in a healthy strike-rate of 40%.

Having sent just the one runner to Kelso today in the shape of Perfect Man – who went on to run out a 9/2 winner – Murphy plans another northern raid, with four entries on Newcastle’s card.

Those four runners combined produce a 34/1 accumulator, and below, we have delved deeper into their individual chances – assessing whether the yard can continue their excellent recent run of form.

Selections for the remaining meetings at Down Royal, Lingfield and Southwell can be found on our free horse racing tips page.

The Wolf – 1.40 Newcastle

Olly Murphy’s first runner on Newcastle’s card is The Wolf, who has gained the one win from his three starts since leaving Warren Greatrex.

A well-bred half-brother to French Grade 1 winning hurdler Gemix, The Wolf runs in the McNeill Family silks, and he drops back into novice company today having finished a fine second in a Class 2 Handicap Hurdle at Newbury last time out.

A repeat of that last run may well suffice here in the sunracing.co.uk Novices’ Hurdle.

Endlessly – 2.40 Newcastle

Arguably Murphy’s strongest chance of victory is that of Endlessly in the Corporate Funfairs Novices’ Hurdle.

A rare jumps runner by Nathaniel, this five-year-old has now won three of his four starts since joining Olly Murphy from Martyn Meade – his latest success coming on just his second hurdles outing at Ayr earlier this month.

That looks the strongest form on offer, and rider Fergus Gregory negates three of the seven-pound penalty that he has to carry.

Oscar Maguire – 3.40 Newcastle

Talented amateur rider James King teams up with Olly Murphy on two occasions at Newcastle, the first of which is for the seven-year-old Oscar Maguire in the first division of the Equine Products Amateur Riders’ Handicap Hurdle.

An impressive winner at Uttoxeter on his penultimate outing, Oscar Maguire finished a close second back at that venue last time out, where he may have won but for a notable blunder at the second-last flight.

He runs off just two pounds higher today, and this slight drop-in trip should suit, so another big performance looks firmly in the offing.

Three County’s – 4.10 Newcastle

The second division of the aforementioned Equine Products Amateur Riders’ Handicap Hurdle sees Three County’s bid for a first career success.

Lightly raced for a nine-year-old with just the seven starts under rules to date, this Beneficial gelding arrives here on the back of a fourth-place finish at Catterick.

He has now slipped to a career-low mark, and connections will be hoping that a new headgear combination will bring about the improvement needed for him to land this prize.