Murphy hopeful of Hunters Call as he prepares to unleash big string of horses

Just 14 months ago trainer Olly Murphy sent out his first runners with only 30 horses in his care, but now the rising star has more than 100 stabled at Warren Chase near Stratford-upon-Avon for when the core jumps season gets under way in less than a month.

Murphy, formerly assistant to Gordon Elliott, made giant strides last season, the highlight being the victory of Hunters Call in the Grade 3 Racing Welfare Handicap Hurdle at Ascot last December, and the trainer is confident there are more valuable prizes in the pipeline for the eight-year-old.

Speaking at an owners’ day at his yard on Sunday, Murphy said: “Unfortunately Hunters Call later picked up a stress fracture in a foreleg, which saw him miss the remainder of the season. That was disappointing, to say the least, as he'd been favourite for the Coral Cup at the Cheltenham Festival.