Will Kennedy smiling in the rain after landing first winner in new Murphy role

Tuesday: Wetherby

He hadn't run for 644 days, his jockey hadn't ridden a winner for 255 days and he was 22-1 outsider in a field of six but Grandads Cottage defied the odds.

The winner got the better of 10-11 favourite Bass Rock by a neck in the novice handicap chase under Will Kennedy, who was smiling in the rain after landing his first success since a career-saving move to trainer Olly Murphy.

The jockey, 41, had two second places to show from just 36 previous rides this season and said: "It hasn't been an easy time. Olly gave me a chance to come in and ride and without that I probably wouldn't be still doing it."

Kennedy, who was champion conditional jockey in 2005-06 and has ridden more than 450 winners, added: "It's been a difficult season, we had quick ground and then we had frost but I hope now we'll have a clear run to the end of the season and we can bang in a few more winners."

Murphy paid tribute to the jockey and said: "Will is a grafter and he's someone that all these young lads starting out should be looking up to because his work ethic is second to none. He's attached to the yard now and he's a big help to me, I'm delighted to give him a winner."

Grandads Cottage (No.4) beat the odds to get the better of Bass Rock (green)Credit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

The trainer added: "Grandads Cottage has had leg issues, he got a tendon and ended up having 18 months off. It was a big effort by Holly Tetsill who rides him every day. He has plenty of ability and his schooling's been very good.

"It was a warm race and I just wanted to get him started. He's a nice novice to look forward to."

Niven finally nails Castleford

The Castleford Chase was not one of the 1,000-odd races that Peter Niven won as a jockey but he broke his duck in the 1m7f feature when Malystic triumphed under Danny McMenamin.

The winner had been pulled up at Cheltenham previously but his trainer said: "He scoped badly afterwards but we got him cleared out and he was in great form. I hope he's a nice horse."

Reflecting on his record as a jockey, he said: "I got beaten on Waterloo Boy at odds-on and I was jocked up on Viking Flagship one year but it got called off because of snow."

Four in two days for Quinlan

Sean Quinlan rode his second Wetherby double in two days, starting on Juniper who bounded up in the mares' chase on her first outing for nearly eight months.

The winner had her rivals beaten a long way out and trainer Harry Whittington said: "I can't believe it, I'm speechless. She's only had one proper bit of work and it was a bit tight to get here. She had fragments of bone taken out of her joints in the summer."

Quinlan also partnered Start In Front to a stylish debut win for Rebecca Menzies in the juvenile hurdle.

Sean Quinlan rode his fourth winner at the two-day meeting on Start In FrontCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

"He's a lovely little horse," the trainer said. "He had nice French form on the Flat and he's got a brilliant attitude. We might run him again in the north under a penalty then I hope he's one we could go south with. We'll enter him in the Triumph and the Fred Winter."

Replays, results and analysis

Sign up to receive On The Nose, our essential daily newsletter, from the Racing Post. Your unmissable morning feed, direct to your email inbox every morning.