Hero’s welcome

THERE was unbridled joy in a Cork stable yesterday as a Cheltenham champion was welcomed home.

The sun beamed down on trainer John Murphy’s Highfort House lands in Upton as dozens of family and friends supped champagne in his yard to toast Newmill’s success in the prestigious Queen Mother Champion Chase.

It was a hectic week for John, his wife, Carolan, and their children, George, 13, Emily, 11, Sophie, eight, and Olivia, six, since Limerick jockey AJ McNamara rode their stable’s 16-1 shot Newmill to victory last Wednesday, putting their yard on the international horseracing map.