Murphy riding high this autumn

Image © Healy Racing

James Murphy has enjoyed a blistering start to the season with a superb 50% strike rate heading into the final weekend of the autumn campaign.

From only eight rides, the Walshtown rider has visited the winner’s enclosure on four occasions, and incidentally, each of his four other mounts have finished inside the first four.

The Paul Cashman-trained newcomer Romany King provided the 25-year-old with his fourth winner of the campaign when making most of the running to impressively take the five-year-old geldings contest at Ballindenisk last Sunday.

Cashman also supplied Murphy with wins aboard Youlita at Loughrea in October, and at Dromahane last month on Gameofinches, who Murphy describes as the best horse he has ever ridden. Gameofinches has since been sold privately to join Willie Mullins.

Murphy was also aboard Youlita when finishing a fine third in the point-to-point bumper at Fairyhouse mid-November. That son of Youmzain went on to be sold for €46,000 to Richard Downes and Charles Byrnes at Goresbridge last week.

Murphy’s other winner this autumn came courtesy of the James Hannon-trained Keeptheoldmanout in an older maiden at Lisronagh.

The Cork rider is unsurprisingly delighted with how the autumn term has played out for him with those recent success.

“It has been a brilliant start, I could have never dreamt of starting the season so well,” he said.

“I spend two days with Paul Cashman, one day with Paul Kiely, three days at home and then I ride for James Hannon most afternoons.”

Murphy’s father Daniel trains from Walshestown Stables in Lisgoold and they have around 25 horses in training at present.

“I sold a nice four-year-old mare last year that won at Ballyknock, Supreme Malinas, she was just beaten on her first start for Dan Skelton and she’s entered in a mares’ listed bumper at Huntington on Sunday.

“I went out and bought seven more three-year-olds and I also own a couple of older horses.

“I’m very interested in the training side of things at home but my sister Laura enjoys doing sales prep with foals and three-year-olds for national hunt. My other sister Emma is a nurse but helps out at home too. The whole family is involved.”

Murphy was hindered by injuries at the start of his career, but is looking forward to keeping the momentum going and riding as many winners as possible.