Mick Murphy
Irish National Hunt jockey Mick Murphy had two short stints riding in Britain in the mid-1970s, firstly for trainer John Edwards and then for Alan Jarvis, accumulating a total of four winners.
Irish National Hunt jockey Mick Murphy had two short stints riding in Britain in the mid-1970s, firstly for trainer John Edwards and then for Alan Jarvis, accumulating a total of four winners.
He rode several winners when based with Mick O’Toole in Ireland before making the journey to Britain. Among his earliest was Clover Prince in the Archie Willis Cup Handicap Chase at Waterford & Tramore in August 1972. He scored his biggest success on Wroughton, also trained by O’Toole, in the valuable Naas Handicap Hurdle on December 2, 1972. Later that month he notched a Boxing Day double at Limerick, winning both divisions of the maiden hurdle, one for O’Toole, one for Patrick Prendergast.
He rode several winners when based with Mick O’Toole in Ireland before making the journey to Britain. Among his earliest was Clover Prince in the Archie Willis Cup Handicap Chase at Waterford & Tramore in August 1972. He scored his biggest success on Wroughton, also trained by O’Toole, in the valuable Naas Handicap Hurdle on December 2, 1972. Later that month he notched a Boxing Day double at Limerick, winning both divisions of the maiden hurdle, one for O’Toole, one for Patrick Prendergast.
Mick made the perfect start to riding in Britain, winning on his very first mount, the John Edwards-trained novice chaser Happy Jim at Wolverhampton on Saturday, February 9, 1974 for local builder Charles Lewis. However, his only other winner from 23 mounts that season came on novice hurdler Alnmouth, also trained by Edwards, at Carlisle on Easter Monday.
Mick made the perfect start to riding in Britain, winning on his very first mount, the John Edwards-trained novice chaser Happy Jim at Wolverhampton on Saturday, February 9, 1974 for local builder Charles Lewis. However, his only other winner from 23 mounts that season came on novice hurdler Alnmouth, also trained by Edwards, at Carlisle on Easter Monday.
Having ridden out his claim back in Ireland, Mick returned to Britain in 1976 and teamed up with Alan Jarvis, who was then based at Withybrook, near Coventry. He rode his first winner for him on novice chaser Cherry God at Ludlow on October 28, 1976. Just one more winner followed, again for Jarvis, that being Bright Comet in a Doncaster selling hurdle on January 28, 1977.
Having ridden out his claim back in Ireland, Mick returned to Britain in 1976 and teamed up with Alan Jarvis, who was then based at Withybrook, near Coventry. He rode his first winner for him on novice chaser Cherry God at Ludlow on October 28, 1976. Just one more winner followed, again for Jarvis, that being Bright Comet in a Doncaster selling hurdle on January 28, 1977.
Mick went back to the land of his birth soon after and did not ride in Britain again.
Mick went back to the land of his birth soon after and did not ride in Britain again.
Mick Murphy’s four British winners were, in chronological order:
Mick Murphy’s four British winners were, in chronological order:
1. Happy Jim, Wolverhampton, February 9, 1974
1. Happy Jim, Wolverhampton, February 9, 1974
2. Alnmouth, Carlisle, April 1, 1974
2. Alnmouth, Carlisle, April 1, 1974
3. Cherry God, Ludlow, October 28, 1976
3. Cherry God, Ludlow, October 28, 1976
4. Bright Comet, Doncaster, January 29, 1977
4. Bright Comet, Doncaster, January 29, 1977