The Sergeant Murphy painting (lot 44)
Whyte's Auction House in Dublin will hold a 'virtual sale' of 136 Irish artworks on Monday 7th December which includes a painting of the 1923 Aintree Grand National winner Sergeant Murphy.
The painting which is by Stillorgan born artist Sir William Orpen depicts Sergeant Murphy with his rider Captain 'Tuppy' Bennett, trainer George Blackwell and American owner Stephen Sandford.
Sandford a renowned polo player of the era was the first American owner of a Grand National winner and picked up a winner's purse of £5,000.
Captain Murphy was 13-years-old when winning the Grand National at odds of 100/6 by three lengths from the 1921 winner Shaun Spadah.
A Hollywood movie was released in 1938 loosely based on the career of Captain Murphy and starred subsequent US President Ronald Reagan.
Whyte's have put an estimate on the Orpen painting of between €250,000 to €350,000 for the December sale.
