Murphy comes to banned Findlay's defence as he takes in Big Fella Thanks

FERDY Murphy has described Harry Findlay as one of the "most honourable men" in racing after agreeing to train one of the banned gambler's top Grand National horses.

Findlay – a controversial character whose wife's family hail from Sheffield – is currently barred from horse racing after breaking the sport's integrity rules.

The leading owner, who has also ended his longstanding association with 2008 Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Denman, is currently serving a six-month ban for laying one of his horses, Gullible Gordon, to lose on two separate occasions – despite standing to win significantly more money if the horse was victorious.

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Findlay's appeal will be heard by the British Horseracing Authority next Wednesday, but he announced yesterday that he was severing his ties with Denman's handler Paul Nicholls because of a perceived lack of support from the champion trainer's yard

The consequence is Findlay's share in Denman has been transferred to the horse's co-owner, Paul Barber, while Grand National fourth Big Fella Thanks is switching to Murphy's North Yorkshire stable with the ownership transferred to the gambler's mother Maggie.

Gullible Gordon, the Nicholls-trained horse at the centre of the scandal, has already been sold, while eight other horses Findlay had in training with Nicholls will go under the hammer at Doncaster Sales next month.

Last night, Findlay told the Yorkshire Post that he was "too distraught" to talk about the damage to his reputation while he put the finishing touches to an appeal backed, amongst others, by the legendary commentator Sir Peter O'Sullevan.

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However Findlay, who used to train greyhounds locally, said he was delighted to move Big Fella Thanks, named in honour of his champion greyhound, to Murphy's yard in recognition of the unstinting support that he had received from the West Witton trainer.

Murphy said he had no qualms about his association with Findlay, having previously trained for the gambler and known the family for many years.

"Big Fella Thanks is a huge acquisition for our yard," he said. "I've had many high-profile owners and Harry, without doubt, is one of the most honourable men in racing and has been treated disgracefully by the BHA.

"They could not have been more shortsighted over this. What Harry has done for jump racing with the likes of Denman – he's put our sport back on the map. The BHA have not.

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"I've known him for years and he never asks about other horses in the yard – he just relies on his own judgement. Yes, he broke the rules – but the rules were there to keep corruption out of racing. He's not corrupt.

"Not only that, he admitted that he made a mistake, gave the BHA open access to all his betting accounts and believed the BHA, when they said he'd get a slapped wrist, when he went to the inquiry without legal representation.

"I'm not sure whether Big Fella Thanks stays four miles plus for the Grand National; I think you'll find we go for the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury in November."

Unless his appeal is successful, Findlay would be unable to attend the Hennessy -–a race he won twice with Denman – but the horse would run in his mother's colours.

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Yesterday, Mrs Findlay alluded to her son's strained relationship with Denman's trainer and said the support from the Nicholls yard had "simply not been loud enough or strong enough".

Meanwhile BHA chairman Paul Roy defended his organisation's handling of the inquiry, and rejected suggestions they had made Findlay a scapegoat.

"This rule is in place for good reason. It prevents the owner of a horse profting from negative information relating to the horse's prospects in a race," he said. "Mr Findlay suggests there to have been a personal dimension. This suggestion is entirely wrong. The Rules of Racing apply equally to all."