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Irish, I know, but sorry his strategy is old school, all his horses are running poor, no excuse nowadays, with all the facilities available they should be fit enough to run races, 0% RTF on racing post sums it up, it just drives me mad to think this is his way of training in 2011, its so old school
A return of 3-148 for the month of October since 2007 wouldn’t have been that much more sparkling even some of the fair performances listed earlier in the thread had been converted into wins.
With a large, Wylie / Johnson-shaped hole in a lot of races in the North from hereon in, one might well have hoped that Ferdy Murphy would have been one of those handlers all too keen to capitalise a bit more than he has as soon as Kelso, Wetherby and Carlisle’s October resumptions all hoved into view.
One trainer who has, albeit still in just a small way, is James Ewart, for whom Ueueteotl’s junior bumper win yesterday was a third for the yard in October (Aikman and Quicuyo being the others). Ewart had never saddled a winner before the start of November in seven previous seasons of training.
Whilst some of his string have indeed still needed the outing as in seasons past (Signalman in particular turned to water up the home straight yesterday), I’ve liked how many more of his string have seemed fit and straight enough to do themselves some / total justice this time around. A perceptible change of tack from the Dumfriesshire handler, I think, and one which should prevent his pre-November charges from being regarded as nailed-on lay propositions without exception in the seasons to come.
gc
Jeremy Grayson. Son of immigrant. Adoptive father of two. Metadata librarian. Freelance point-to-point / horse racing writer, analyst and commentator wonk. Loves music, buses, cats, the BBC Micro, ale. Advocate of CBT, PACE and therapeutic parenting. Aspergers.
Good point Joe – IMO it’s no coincidence that a front running bridle merchant like Runshan has racked up a quick double since they came in.
I think Runshan is a "calendar horse" at least as much as (if not more than) he is a bridle merchant. Things seem to click into place for him more when September and October come around.
His September / October record since sent chasing reads: 5//1316/323/21-211, or 5-13 if you prefer (out of a total chase record of 5-30). In each of the last three seasons he has recorded his best RPR of the entire campaign in October, and I’d therefore not be too surprised if the 117 (a joint career-best) of his Stratford win four days ago is not bettered in any subsequent outing this winter.
Note that even within the context of this record, though, he won’t score in September / October on his seasonal debut – he always needs at least one run back before rating a win proposition.
Personally I’m already waiting to shovel on again on his second start of 2012-3, assuming it’s at the right time of year.
gc
Jeremy Grayson. Son of immigrant. Adoptive father of two. Metadata librarian. Freelance point-to-point / horse racing writer, analyst and commentator wonk. Loves music, buses, cats, the BBC Micro, ale. Advocate of CBT, PACE and therapeutic parenting. Aspergers.
I don’t want Ferdy to change. Too much is changing about racing these days, for me. I like watching the ‘progress’ of Ferdys’ handicappers. [Even though I do still seem to miss them when they get to Cheltenham]
On the point about any unrateable performance (including as a result of the horse being raced whilst unfit), may I commend to everyone Jose’s excellent thread here:
http://www.theracingforum.co.uk/horse-racing-forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=83730
Nice to see him get the winner of the seller at Hexham today. Whilst not claiming that he is in the form of his career by any means I think that he may simply be having a bit of bad luck also.
From his 70 runners this season although he has only netted 3 winners so far, he has had 11 seconds and 11 thirds i.e. 25 either won or placed from 70 runners. Thats quite respectable in my eyes.Ferdy Murphys stable is well known to have a "slow" start. This "needing the run" business is now so out of touch he is way behind a lot of the trainers.
I find it hard to believe how badly his horses are running and people put it down to, "well thats just Ferdy", I’m sorry but thats old school now, and trainers are way ahead of him.
He had a poor-average season last year, he blamed the snow, yes it was a bad month or two, but when your horses aren’t fit and then the snow comes, you may as well give up. We had horrendous snow in Scotland yet Lucinda Russell managed to fire out 41 winners and have her best season, Ferdy has so far fired out 2 winners this season with a 3% strike rate, in the last five years he’s gone from 61 to 29 winners.
I watched Divers today, a class horse, who ran terrible and probably was 70% fit, what a way to dissapoint the horse and owners, poor Graham Lee must be pulling his hair out.
I know it’s a bit harsh to have a go, but he is rapidly falling behind the Nicholls, Pipes, Vaughans, Longsdens and in the north McCains and Russells, who all realise they need to fire out winners all the year around for their owners and stable profile.
Ferdy needs to move on, or he will be left behind.
Rapidly falling behind ? He’s always been behind. Wouldn’t trust his runners as far as i could throw them.
Then he gets one ready for Cheltenham and it’s cliche time ! " Murphy – always one for the big races "A few of Ferdy’s runners were rugged up today at Kelso, so it was difficult to judge their fitness definitively. De Boitron blatantly needed the race in the feature chase. Kalahari King looked as if the race would bring him on, and his performance was similar to his run in the same event last year. Sue Smith, James Ewart and Lucinda Russell had their charges fit and ready, and duly filled the first three places. Sue Smith in particular is good at having her charges spot on for the seasonal bow.
Rob
Ferdy`s been doing well enough to entice Malcolm Denmark to send horses his way. Not sure of the objective bit I`m sure the move will do wonders for their handicap marks.
I attended his latest stable tour and despite agreeing with a lot of what has been said, the horses welfare always comes first with him. It was also great to see all his staff so happy (unlike some yards).
Going Wrong really got Ferdy excited and he stated this was one of his favourite horses in the yard AND one of the top 5!!
One that really caught my eye was Watch My Back, looked amazing and Ferdy spoke extremely highly of him.
And there’s the winner, going from cold(ish) list to warm
Think he may knock in a few more winners now, especially at Hexham and Carlisle
2 winners and 3 2nds so far, nice day for Ferdy
Enough to back DIVERS for the PPGC on Saturday?
I’m keeping a very close eye on one of Ferdy’s because he gave it a great mention in his recent stable tour in the racing post pull out and I thought it ran a belter on the comeback from a long absence, certainly a lot better than a lot of his have been going lately……
Going Wrong
….well worth keeping a close eye on and following this season….
….needless to say I didn’t keep a close enough eye out for this one!!
Was right at the top of my horses to follow list, but a combination of working too hard and tiredness the last few days meant I missed it….typical of my luck of late….I blame the BHA!
I know it was lucky today with the late departing favourite but there was the bounce factor possibility today and think it will be much better next time out and certainly one to follow…
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