Murphy Blowing Hot

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.'

County 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.'

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.

Emmpat gave Irish trainer Charlie Swan and jockey David Casey their first winners at Ayr when taking the Samsung Electronics Scottish Champion Hurdle.

The 100-30 chance was always travelling well and cut down long-time leader Ouninpohja to lead at the last and win by four lengths. Premier Dane was a length and a quarter away in third.

'He may go for the Swinton Hurdle at Haydock now. We´ll see how he comes out of it, he was fourth in that last year,' said Swan.

Yes Sir ran his rivals ragged in the Ashleybank Investments Future Champion Novices´ Chase under record-breaking conditional jockey Tom O´Brien.

The 5-1 shot came home 11 lengths of Natal while Faasel plugged on for third, five lengths away.

Welsh trainer Peter Bowen said: 'Everything was right for him ? the trip, the ground and the track. He has not had his ground all winter. He´s a very good horse on his day.

'He may go to Punchestown next Friday for the two-and-a-half-mile valuable novice handicap chase. It takes us three and half hours to get there, but nine and a half to get here.'

Bowen and O´Brien completed a 41-1 double when Always Waining (6-1) beat Get My Drift by six lengths in the Cenkos (Scotland) Securities Novices´ Handicap Chase.

The Haverfordwest trainer said: 'It is a long way to come, it is 500 miles from door to door. But it has been well worth it now. We´ll see what the handicapper does, but he may go summer jumping.'

It was a red-letter day for Bowen, who also struck with Waldo´s Dream at Bangor.

Paul Nicholls and Ruby Walsh followed up their double at the track on Friday by taking the Purvis Marquees Juvenile Novices´ Hurdle with Poquelin (5-6).

Poquelin made all the running to beat English City by seven lengths, with Pouvoir another three and a half lengths third.

Nicholls said: 'He´s a nice horse, but I don´t think he will go chasing next season, particularly now the allowances have gone. He could win a nice handicap hurdle.'

Bambi De L´Orme was withdrawn from a race here yesterday because the ground was not considered quick enough for him, but he handled conditions this time and the Ian Williams-trained eight-year-old took the spoils in the Albert Bartlett and Sons Handicap Chase.

Evelith Echo ran out a neck winner from Quws Law of the concluding Ashleybank Investments Standard Open NH Flat Race, after which trainer Alan King said: 'He was due to run in the bumper at Aintree (Grand National day) which was abandoned so we came here.

'He has been schooled, he jumps well and will go hurdling next season. I think he is above average.'

(C) PA Sport