'A genius and hero': Cheltenham Festival-winning trainer Ferdy Murphy dies at 70

One former jockey called it "the end of an era" as tributes flooded in for Ferdy Murphy, who died on Tuesday at the age of 70.

The man who became one of the leading powers in northern jumping from his base in North Yorkshire and was responsible for a dozen Cheltenham Festival winners was hailed as a "genius" and "hero" following his death at home in France.

"He was a great guy to ride for and a great trainer," said Graham Lee, who won big races for Murphy on the likes of Kalahari King, L'Antartique and Divers before switching to the Flat.

"I loved riding for him. If you gave one a bad ride and you came in and said sorry he'd say, 'You didn't do it on purpose and you'll learn for the next day'. He was a great fellow and he always instilled you with lots of confidence. My thoughts are with all his family."

The Ferdy Murphy-trained French Holly leads Istabraq (white cap) in the 1999 Aintree Hurdle before finishing secondCredit: Alec Russell

Brought up in rural Wexford, Murphy enjoyed an impressive racing education under Phonsie O'Brien and Paddy Mullins before beginning a spell training for owner Bill Durkan, in whose name the horses raced.

Much the best and most famous of them was the brilliant front-runner Anaglogs Daughter, who demolished the 1980 Arkle Chase field at Cheltenham before winning four days later at Chepstow when ridden by Murphy.

Murphy began training in his own name from 1990 and one of his biggest early days came with Sibton Abbey in the 1992 Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup.

The horse was ridden by Adrian Maguire, who said: "It's obviously very sad news for his family and friends.

"He was a great man to ride for and a great friend when I was riding for him. We had many great days together and I have brilliant memories of winning races for him like the Scottish National on Paris Pike, the Maghull at Aintree on Ballinclay King and the Hennessy on Sibton Abbey. Ferdy was old school but his horses lasted very well."

A young PJ McDonald and Ferdy Murphy celebrate Hot Weld's win in the 2007 Scottish Grand NationalCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Among his other good horses was the high-class French Holly, who ran away with the Royal & Sunalliance Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham in 1998 under Andrew Thornton.

"It's so sad, it's like the end of an era," the jockey reflected. "I remember when I rode the horse for the first time at Ayr in 1997. Adrian Maguire had to go to Cheltenham for the Duke [David Nicholson] and I was probably about tenth in line but I won on him and Ferdy and the owner said, 'You were good enough to come and ride him, would you ride him all year?' – to which there was only one answer!

"The day French Holly won the Sun Alliance was special, the hairs are going up on the back of my neck just thinking about it. He and Cool Dawn are the two horses who made my career."

Murphy was one of the first British trainers to recognise the potential of Davy Russell, bringing him across from Ireland to be stable jockey, and the rider said: "He was a brilliant man who was very loyal.

"He was a huge part of moulding my career and if it wasn't for him I wouldn't be where I am today. I rode some lovely horses for him and he was a very good trainer but at the back of it all he was a great gentleman."

Murphy won the Irish Grand National, three Scottish Nationals, a Paddy Power Gold Cup and Long Walk Hurdle, as well as having Truckers Tavern finish second in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, before ceasing training in Britain after the 2013-14 season.

Summing up his father, son Paul Murphy said: "Professionally, he was a genius. Personally, he was my hero.

"He was a very outspoken man who wasn't afraid to wear his heart on his sleeve. He had a four-year-long battle with cancer but that was after he had initially been given three weeks to live. That just shows you what a strong man he was.

"He didn't have a bad quality [of life] over those four years as he only really got sick two months ago. He died with his family around him. We'll have a small funeral here in France and then we'll bring his remains back to Ireland for a proper funeral on a date to be decided."

Murphy is survived by sons Paul, Barry and Rees, daughters Zoe and Caroline, and partner Janet Morgan.

The funeral of Ferdy Murphy will take place on Thursday, September 12, at St Clement's Church, Cloughbawn, County Wexford.