It was a super day for National Hunt fans, jockeys, trainers, owners and horses as Southwell Races opened its otherwise closed doors for the first jump meeting of the new season. It was an even better day however for Olly Murphy who had four successive wins.
Nine races aired on Sky TV in a packed card which involved over 100 horses, a huge meet on ground that was good below the overcast Nottinghamshire skies. The first race of the day, the Novices Class 5 of almost 2.5 furlong in length was won by Nineohtwooneoh ridden by Harry Cobden and trained by the legendary Paul Nicholls, going very much as expected by the way of the form guide. The 2/1 favourite seeing off Torquay in second place to win by a good few lengths.
Race Two the 12:35 was much more of an upset on the cards with Isaac Wonder (ridden by Brendan Powell) winning at 12/1 for Michael Scudamore. The third race of the day however (13:10) produced a classic with Ultimate Gateway edging Donnie Azoff and Le Boulevardier to win for Fergal O’Brien and his jockey Paddy Brennan.
Tel’art for Nico De Boinville and trainer Ben Pauling won at 5/1 the 13:40 Handicap Hurdle whilst Enemy Coast Ahead edged Medalla De Oro in a thrilling race to take home the glory in the 14:10 for Olly Murphy and Adrian Heskin.
Another winner for Olly Murphy this time with Sangha River at 6/4 as Aidan Coleman rode the 14:40 winner to victory ahead of Captain Tom Cat in second and favourite Ashutor in third before Hunters Call made it a hat-trick of wins for Murphy after beating off 80/1 shot Kentford Heiress in the 15:10.
That wasn’t the end for Murphy’s winners however as the Stratford-upon-Avon based trainer took the glory again (for the fourth race in a row) with 3/1 favourite St Gallen in the 15:40 with jockey Richard Johnson edging out Scorched Earth into second and Dino Velvet in third.
The final race of the day went to trainer Ben Pauling who grabbed his second winner of the afternoon with 20/1 shot Sebastian Beach ridden by Daryl Jacob but the day, and the first day back in National Hunt racing at Southwell belonged to one man, Olly Murphy after a fantastic four saw his stable pocket near £20,000 in winnings.
*Main image @Southwell_Races Enemy Coast Ahead was the first winner of the day for Olly Murphy.
