KING FERDY’S ONE-TWO IN CORAL SCOTTISH GRAND NATIONAL

KING FERDY'S ONE-TWO IN CORAL SCOTTISH GRAND NATIONAL

HAIL King Ferdy ! That was the cry at Ayr Racecourse on Saturday as the amiable Yorkshire-based Irish-born trainer saddled the first two home in the Coral Scottish Grand National.

Hot Weld, the trainer's second string at 14/1 held on by half a length from Nine de Sivola, the 5/1 favourite with Parson's Legacy (8/1) third a further length and a quarter down.

It was a great race with young PJ McDonald on board Hot Weld setting a blistering pace only to be headed briefly two out by the Richard Johnson ridden Parson's Legacy. But Hot Weld rallied and held off the challenge of his stablemate Nine de Sivola ridden by stable jockey Graham Lee.

Ferdy was naturally delighted and unstinting in his praise of 24 year-old PJ. He said : "Its always better that your stable jockey rides the big winners but in this case PJ deserves all the praise going he rode a terrific race as did Graham.

"I'd also like to thank the ground staff for the fantastic job they did to have the track in such great condition despite all the dry weather. It is a fabulous feeling and really tops off a great season for the stable."

And Murphy and McDonald's day got even better in the race after the Scottish National when Spring Breeze landed the Scottish Sun Handicap Hurdle for them at 11/2.

More than 17,000 spectators enjoyed a great day's racing on Saturday and despite the threat of rain in the morning the skies cleared and the sun shone for the richest ever raceday held in Scotland.

The Paul Nicholls-Ruby Walsh trainer-jockey combination landed the opener on Saturday - the Purvis Marquees Juvenile Novices Hurdle - with Poquelin, an easy seven length winner at odds of 5/6 favourite. Nicholls and Walsh also landed a double on Friday with Otto Des Pictons (11/8 favourite) in the Dawn Construction Handicap Hurdle and Petit Lord in the Serendipity Interactive Handicap Hurdle (10/11 favourite).

One of the most impressive winners on Saturday was the Peter Bowen trained Yes Sir in the Ashleybank Investments Future Champion Novices Chase at odds of 5/1. The eight year-old recorded his eighth chase win of the season by an emphatic 11 lengths from Natal (9/4 joint favourite).

The jungle drums had been beating all week with word for Irish raider Emmpat in the Samsung Electronics Scottish Champion and the Charlie Swan trained, David Casey ridden gelding duly obliged at odds of 100/30 by four lengths from 3/1 favourite Ouninpohja.

Peter Bowen and Tom O'Brien completed their doubles in the Cenkos (Scotland) Securities Novices Handicap Chase with Always Waining (6/1) an easy six lengths winner over Get My Drift (2/1).

Bambi De L'Orme (2/1 favourite) won the Albert Bartlett and Sons Handicap Chase for jockey Dominic Elsworth and trainer Ian Williams and the final winner of the two day festival was Evelith Echo (3/1) who got up by a neck to beat Quws Law (4/1) and give trainer Alan King and jockey Robert Thornton their first winner of the meeting.

Highlights on Friday included another Ferdy Murphy - PJ McDonald winner with Three Mirrors (7/2) in the £30,000 Hillhouse Quarry Handicap Chase. The 7/2 chance recorded his third win of the season beating Locksmith by nine lengths.

The Coral Mares Only Handicap Hurdle went to 16/1 outsider River Alder ridden by Peter Buchanan and trained by Michael Dun.

Ayr next races on Thursday May 10 when the first race will be at 6.00 pm. Advance tickets can be booked on 0870-850566 or online on www.ayr-racecourse.co.uk

Issued by Iain Ferguson on behalf of Ayr Racecourse. For further information please contact Iain Ferguson on 07795-565691 or 07769-599703.

KING FERDY’S ONE-TWO IN CORAL SCOTTISH GRAND NATIONAL

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