White Birch on course for Leopardstown next month Adherents of 'follow John Murphy at Killarney', one of the most profitable punting systems of the Irish Flat season, were yet again quids in on Thursday after an opening race double for the Co Cork handler at the scenic venue and his son George was on hand to give an update on stable star White Birch. The Ballysax Stakes winner was a fine fourth in the Derby before running poorly in the Irish Derby when sent off second-favourite behind odds-on winner Auguste Rodin. "He is in great form and we couldn't be happier with him. He is in the Prix Niel (Group 2 at Longchamp) but is more likely to stay in Ireland and run in the Kilternan Stakes on Irish Champions Weekend. "To be fair to the horse he had a lot of tough races close together, had two trips to England within two weeks so we'll forgive him one run." Additional reporting by Tom Weekes
