National glory for Murphy
Ferdy Murphy hit the Ayr jackpot for the third time in seven years when he completed a tremendous one-two with Hot Weld and Nine De Sivola in the Coral Scottish Grand National.
Hot Weld was ridden by Murphy’s conditional jockey PJ McDonald, who followed instructions to the letter in making all on the eight-year-old former Cheltenham Festival winner.
Jumping well and enjoying himself, the 14-1 chance led into the final straight in the extended four-mile test, but Parsons Legacy came to head him at the penultimate fence and it looked as if his chance had gone.
However, Hot Weld was nothing if not game and as Nine De Sivola challenged on the inside under Graham Lee, he rallied to get back on top and had half a length to spare over his stablemate at the line, with Parsons Legacy one and a quarter lengths back in third.
Murphy has a great record with staying chasers, but he viewed the outcome with mixed feelings.
He said: “I am delighted for the young lad (McDonald), but in my heart of hearts I always like the stable jockey to ride the winner if at all possible.
“Graham thought he would win at the third-last, but he (Nine De Sivola) knocked himself and Graham thought he had broken down for a few strides. But going to the second-last he freed up again.
“Unfortunately he had just lost his momentum and that could have cost him the race – the stable jockey should be on the best one.”
Murphy sent out last week’s beaten Aintree Grand National favourite Joes Edge to take glory in this race in 2005 and Paris Pike to strike in 2000, and he went on: “It is nice to win the race again. I said to the horse’s owner that we had the perfect horse for the race, but that we had been messed about in the winter and as he takes a lot of getting ready, I thought the race was coming two weeks too soon.
“Nine De Sivola was also second in the Irish National so he deserves to win a big one, but I suppose from now on we are going to have to look for conditions races for him.”
Co Wexford-born McDonald, 24, said: “It’s unbelievable, it will take a few days before it sinks in. He jumped brilliant and although we were headed, I knew I still had plenty of horse under me.”
Lee said: “I thought we would win at the third-last, but it was not to be. But it is great for PJ and it has been a great season for the stable, we have a great team and PJ and Tom Dreaper are two very good jockeys to have on your side.”
Phillip Hobbs, trainer of Parsons Legacy, said: “There were doubts about Parsons Legacy staying, but he stayed very well really. When he jumped to the front at the second-last I thought ’we will win now’, but it was amazing the winner came back like he did after making all the running.”
The Paul Nicholls-trained Napolitain finished lame, while Fergus King was ’sore’ after being unseated from Classic Capers and gave up his remaining ride.
Lee also felt unwell and gave up his mount in the following Scottish Sun Handicap Hurdle on Murphy's Spring Breeze – and in stepped super-sub McDonald to crown his most memorable day as a jump jockey by completing a double.
