'I have to pinch myself' - Olly Murphy hoping for big season after Rambo T continues flying start to campaign

Olly Murphy admits he is pinching himself about the strength of his stable for the upcoming season as the Warwickshire trainer took out the second feature race at the Dragonbet Welsh Racing Festival with Rambo T.

Murphy was expecting a big run from Friday's Persian War winner Sticktotheplan but was left stunned as the eight-year-old scored at 12-1 in the Wasdell Group Silver Trophy. He was so unsure about his pre-race chances, he offered his stable jockey Sean Bowen the opportunity to ride the runner-up Paggane.

Murphy has accumulated more than £80,000 with his two victories and is optimistic of building on last year's fifth-place finish in the trainers' championship. He is 66-1 with bet365 for the title. 

He said: "I'm a bloody long way off it but it's great to be talked about with the likes of Dan Skelton, Nicky Henderson and Paul Nicholls.

"I have to pinch myself about where we've come from to the position we're in now. I'm not sure we've got the quality yet but I've never shied away from saying it's something I'd love to do. We'll enjoy the season and keep trying to get better.

"I've got full belief in Sean and the full thing is working from everyone at home, me being a bit more mature as a trainer and making slightly better decisions. Things are going great and confidence is massive in professional sport.

"It's taken time and I'm not good at waiting. I've wanted to be somewhere I hadn't been through a lack of time but we've made a really good start. We're still growing and hopefully there's a lot more to come."

Bowen's ride on Rambo T was the latest example of why he is poised to defend his championship. He produced the eight-year-old from the rear and held off the 50-1 shot Paggane, who was ridden by his brother James.

"I thought he was handicapped out of it," Murphy added. "It just shows that you should run them and with a good ride they don't need to be the best handicapped. I'm not shocked often but I am after that – I didn't think he'd win."

Cheltenham contender

James Owen has Cheltenham aspirations with Ammes after he was cut to 20-1 (from 33) with William Hill for the Triumph Hurdle following a dominant victory in the 2m juvenile hurdle.

The three-year-old shrugged off a 7lb penalty for winning at Sedgefield two weeks ago and coasted home 11 lengths clear under Sean Bowen, who went on to complete a double on Rambo T.

Owen has trained smart juveniles like Burdett Road and East India Dock in recent years and Ammes could be his latest leading player, with Bahrain Trophy third Hallelujah U also set to be sent over hurdles.

Owen said: "He jumped much better and won well. I don't know what he's beaten but he's done it well under a penalty. We'll have to look at something better now, possibly at Listed level or something else. I've not made a plan yet but there's plenty of options. 

"He's a nice type with plenty of scope. He'll be a great dual-purpose horse, but after that you've got to hope he'll end up at Cheltenham."

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