2007-2010 Paul T J Murphy
Paul Murphy, son of legendary Gold Cup winning trainer Ferdy Murphy, was always likely to have a career involving horses, whether as a jockey, or breeder, bloodstock agent or trainer. He was one of 5 children, brother to Barry, Rees, Caroline and Zoe. He watched his father train a Hennessey Gold Cup winner in 1992 and then saw him move on to Middleham where he trained at Highwall and Wynbury Stables. Ferdy won a Scottish Grand National, Midlands Grand National and Irish Grand National, but missed out on the big one at Aintree. Paul loved Aintree, especially after 1992 when he was victorious in the Martell Fox Hunters Chase aboard Gee-A at 66/1.
He tried to follow up the next year on the same horse but was beaten 74 lengths by favourite Double Silk. Paul launched his training career in 2007, moving to stables at Cappell Lodge on the outskirts of Middleham which it is uncertain whether they had been used as racing stables in the past. He was his own man, and had ambitions to have a runner in the Aintree Grand National and the Gold Cup despite more experienced trainers suggesting it was not a good idea. His horse of choice was Cerium and it duly ran in the 2009 and 2010 Grand National and Gold Cup giving owner Mrs J E Wilson real value for money even though the horse was unplaced in all 4 races. Paul trained at Cappall Lodge from 2007 to 2010, and had a string of 21 in the 2008 season, which reduced to 19 in 2009 and 17 in his final season, 2010.
1992 Martell Fox Hunters Chase at Aintree GEE-A 66/1 owned and trained by Geoff Hubbard and ridden by Paul Murphy
1993 Martell Fox Hunters Chase at Aintree GEE-A 16/1 was beaten 74 lengths by Double Silk 5/2 fav
Cerium's performances in the Gold Cup at Cheltenham and the Grand National at Aintree
2009 Cheltenham Gold Cup CERIUM 300/1 owned by Mrs J E Wilson, trained by Paul Murphy and ridden by Keith Mercer was 11th beaten 64 lengths by Kauto Star
2009 Grand National at Aintree CERIUM 100/1 owned by Mrs J E Wilson, trained by Paul Murphy and ridden by Keith Mercer was 5th beaten 19 lengths by Mon Mome
2010 Cheltenham Gold Cup CERIUM 200/1 owned by Mrs J E Wilson, trained by Paul Murphy and ridden by Davy Russell was 8th beaten 61 lengths by Imperial Commander
2010 Grand National at Aintree CERIUM 50/1 owned by Mrs J E Wilson, trained by Paul Murphy and ridden by Davy Russell was 11th beaten 104 lengths by Don’t Push It
Principal winners for Paul Murphy during his time at Cappall Lodge
2007 Jewson Novices Hurdle at Cartmel SYBELLIUS D'ARTAIX 8/11 fav trained by Paul Murphy and ridden by Graham Lee
2008 Mares Only Standard National Hunt Flat race at Catterick ELZAHAAN 100/1 trained by Paul Murphy and ridden by Michael O'Connell
2008 Robert Elliott Memorial Handicap Chase at Carlisle HAS SCORED 7/1 trained by Paul Murphy and ridden by Keith Mercer
2008 Swan Hotel Newby Bridge Novice Hurdle at Cartmel MAIDSTONE MIXTURE 8/11 fav trained by Paul Murphy and ridden by Richie McGrath
2009 Skybet Standard Open National Hunt Flat race at Doncaster PAR AVION 66/1 trained by Paul Murphy and ridden by Paddy Aspell
2009 O’Brien Waste Recycling Conditional Jockeys Handicap Chase at Sedgefield OPUS CAFE 12/1 trained by Paul Murphy and ridden by Paddy Merrigan
