'He makes me feel like I'm 24' - assistant trainer a shot in the arm for Murphy

Monday: Plumpton

Pat Murphy was full of praise for the role assistant trainer Joe Quinton has played in reinvigorating his yard’s fortunes after Minella Hub struck on just his second start for the Welsh National-winning trainer under Harry Bannister.

The winner, bought from Adam West for just £4,500 in December, was available at 12-1 with some firms overnight and scored on his chasing and handicap debut at a much shorter starting price of 100-30, ensuring Murphy doubled his seasonal tally of winners to four in the space of two days.

Murphy, who also struck with Galtee Mountain at Fontwell on Sunday and is enjoying his best season since 2009-10, explained: "I can take very little credit for this.

"Joe started with me when he was 15, he’s 36 now but he came back at the start of this season as assistant trainer. It was Joe who went to the sales and bought this horse and put the syndicate together that owned him so he’s very much the driving force. It’s a hell of a day’s work to go there and buy that horse for four grand.

"We’ve got nine horses, whereas the last couple of years I’ve only had two or three of my own. Joe’s come in this year and he’s brought in fresh blood in terms of owners with horses which is great.

"The aim would be maybe at the end of this year we’d go for a joint-licence together. Somebody like Joe would really struggle to be able to get a licence on his own because of the finance of it, whereas I own the property and I’ve got my own horses.

"It’s brilliant because I’m coming up to 64 and suddenly Joe makes me feel like I’m 24 because he’s young, keen and enthusiastic and he brings you along that way as well."

Birthday winner

Hecouldbetheone: far too good for his rivals in the 2m4½f novice hurdleCredit: Edward Whitaker

Jamie Moore endured a luckless start to his 37th birthday, with 2-1 favourite Dirham Emirati falling in the opening 2m maiden hurdle won by the Highclere-owned Coolnaugh Haze.

However, Moore and his father Gary did not leave their local track empty-handed as the promising Hecouldbetheone justified odds-on favouritism to make it two from three over hurdles in the 2m4½f novice hurdle, having only been beaten under rules by Nicky Henderson’s leading Ballymore hope Walking On Air.

Henderson himself struck on the card when conditional Nathan Brennan rode a second winner of the season aboard Scarpia, taking the Seven Barrows trainer to an impressive 56 per cent seasonal strike-rate at the track.

Results, replays and analysis

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