Andrew Murphy

Andrew Murphy

Article by Alan Trout

Andrew Thomas Murphy was a conditional jockey with Ginger McCain and had three wins under National Hunt rules in the mid-1980s. His first ride, at Uttoxeter on April 27, 1985, resulted in him being unseated from Balmatt at the second last flight when well behind in the Osmaston Four-Year-Old Hurdle. 

More than a year later he recorded his first success when 20-1 shot Rhymaround led all the way to take the North West Racing Club Selling Hurdle at Cartmel on May 28, 1986 by ten lengths. Andrew’s first ride on the five-year-old had ended in a fall, and they had been well beaten in the second, hence the long starting price. They only had one more outing together, falling at the first.

However, Andrew did not have long to wait to double his score, again making all, landing the Haighton Conditional Jockeys’ Selling Hurdle at Bangor-on-Dee in September for Shifnal trainer Roy Cambidge on the four-year-old Frisky Hope, on whom he had already been placed twice that season. 

His third, and final, winner was on the nine-year-old Hyde, challenging for the lead at the last flight and coming away to win the Sunniside Conditional Jockeys’ Selling Handicap Hurdle at Hexham on October 22, 1986 by two and a half lengths. Andrew was placed three more times on Hyde that season and had well over 60 rides altogether but no further success. 

Andrew Murphy’s winners were, in chronological order:

1. Rhymaround, Cartmel, May 28, 1986

2. Frisky Hope, Bangor-on-Dee, September 20, 1986

3. Hyde, Hexham, October 22, 1986