Divers joy for Murphy

Ferdy Murphy is looking forward to having a crack at some decent handicaps with Divers after his

victory in the Scottish Racing Your Best Bet Maiden Hurdle at Musselburgh.

Having run well to beat all but the well-regarded Caravel over the course a week ago, Divers was confidently ridden by Graham Lee.

Appreciating the half-mile step up in trip, he raced to a smooth three-and-a-half-length success, having led at the second-last flight.

Murphy said “Graham said that the ground was a bid dead for Divers and it would not have been in his favour.

“He was happier on the faster ground here last week and he is going to be nice horse to go for those good handicaps on decent ground in the spring – we may bring him back here in January and then give him a break.”

Musselburgh’s penultimate meeting of the year got off to a thrilling start when Divex just denied Balakar in the TurfTV Showing The Best Racecourse Amateur Riders’ Handicap Chase.

Divex, a runner-up here last week, travelled well throughout for Sean Magee.

Although he was not too clever at the second-last fence, the 11-8 favourite picked up well on the run-in to get the better of Balakar by three-quarters of a length, with the gallant Snowy rallying to finish only a nose back in third.

Winning trainer Micky Hammond said: “He won about this time last year at Catterick and he ran a good race here last week.

“This two and a half miles suited him and he gets an easy three miles and he could come back here on the 29th.”

Joe Jo Star won the Musselburgh News Handicap Hurdle as he pleased in the hands of Davy Condon.

The 7-4 favourite carries the colours of the Ipso Facto Syndicate, which is made up of Timeform employees and their families and friends.

Simon Walker, who heads the syndicate, said: “Four of the six horses which have run for us have now won and we will probably bring him back here as the prize money is so good.”

Hernando’s Boy completed the set when he landed a nice little touch in the Rectangle Group Beginners’ Chase.

The seven-year-old was backed from 5-1 into 3-1 and made all the running in the hands of trainer Keith Reveley’s son, James.

The seven-year-old had won twice on the Flat and four times over hurdles. This was his first success over fences at the second attempt.

Reveley Snr said: “He jumped well last time out at Sedgefield but he did go a bit right so we thought it might suit him around here. He wants decent ground and he has run well here on the Flat.”

Go Silver Bullet was another to lead from pillar to post in the East Lothian News Handicap Chase.

Trainer Lucinda Russell said: “This horse has had foot problems but the farrier has done a great job with him – this is his third run for us and he does have to go right-handed.”

Howard Johnson loves raiding the Scottish course and secured a double with Doeslessthanme in the Scottish Racing Thistle Award Winner 2008 Novices’ Hurdle and Meridian City in the bumper.

Both horses are owned by Andrea and Graham Wylie and ridden by Denis O’Regan, who took his score to eight triumphs in Musselburgh’s first three meetings of the season.