Ferdy Murphy’s day at Ayr started on a sour note when Percutant was one of two horses to be fatally injured in the opening race, but Elzahann’s success in the Coral Backing Poppyscotland Mares’ Handicap Hurdle helped lift the stable’s spirits ahead of the Coral Scottish Grand National.

Lucinda Russell was left singing the praises of her conditional jockey Campbell Gillies after the victory of Nelliedonethat at Musselburgh.

Lucky Nellerie is described as a “lunatic” by his trainer Ferdy Murphy but he put up a fine staying performance to win the Weatherbys Bank North Yorkshire Grand National at Catterick.

Henrietta Knight continues on the lookout for a rider for Racing Demon in Saturday’s totesport.com Peterborough Chase as running plans for various other horses around the country remain cloudy.

Aces Four is more likely to head to Huntingdon rather than Haydock this weekend if the rain continues to fall in Merseyside ahead of the Betfair Chase.

IT might have taken Ferdy Murphy quite a long time to find his own feet in the racing business, but over the last ten years or so he has established himself as one of the top trainers in England.

After a somewhat rocky start to his career as a professional jockey, Davy Russell has quietly gone about becoming one of Ireland’s leading jockeys. On the eve of a serious tilt at the Grand National, Declan Colley finds out how he’s done it.

Trainer Ferdy Murphy was a happy man yesterday after his 10-year-old Granit d’Estruval sprung a 33-1 surprise in the Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse.

DAVY RUSSELL has wasted no time in landing a plum job following his split with Middleham trainer Ferdy Murphy.

TRACK record holder Nikita Billie made a sensational exit from the Cashman 575 Stake at Curraheen Park on Saturday night.

LEADING trainer Ferdy Murphy was yesterday fined £4,000 by the Jockey Club for comments made on the BBC programme ‘Kenyon Confronts’ earlier this year.

Irish trainer Ferdy Murphy has been fined almost €7,000 by the Jockey Club in Britain for bringing racing into disrepute.

Leading Irish amateur Davy Russell is relishing the prospect of riding Ferdy Murphy’s horses this winter after getting off the mark for the West Witton trainer at Sedgefield.

LEADING Irish amateur Davy Russell put the seal on his appointment as first jockey to the powerful Ferdy Murphy stable when gaining his first success for the West Witton trainer on Inn Antique at Sedgefield yesterday.

Streamstown is firmly on course for the De Vere Gold Cup at Haydock Park on Saturday following a pleasing work-out in the hands of Adrian Maguire.

Former This Life star Ramon Tikaram is to join the cast of Midlands soap, Crossroads, as the Kings Oak hotel welcomes three new faces.