Murphy’s Centenary Day to remember crowned by Divers

He is also one of Yorkshire’s most successful Festival trainers in history after recording a 10th Cheltenham triumph with Divers – the grey who came with a pulsating late run to land the Centenary Novices’ Handicap Chase.

It was a fitting reward for Murphy, who never lost faith in his abilities during the most wearisome of winters at his West Witton stables when his gallops were snow-bound, meetings were being cancelled and his horses invariably disappointing on the rare days when racing took place.

Owned by the David Parry Racing syndicate, this is a horse that had to be run on the all-weather at Southwell in December – Divers was ninth to John Quinn’s Recession Proof – because there were no alternatives. That makes this win so remarkable.

From Southwell, on the bleakest of winter afternoons, to jump racing’s greatest amphitheatre, Murphy’s confidence was boosted when Divers returned to form at Musselburgh last month. His stable had turned the corner.

First past the post when the trainer galloped his Cheltenham string at Doncaster 10 days ago, Murphy also named the 10-1 chance as his most likely Festival winner.

“He’s matured a good bit in the last few months and it’s always nice to make a plan,” said Murphy, who prepares his horses for major races by galloping them along Redcar beach.

“I’ve not looked beyond today, but he has the scope to get further and he would take another race (this season).”

There was also a slight difference of opinion between Murphy and stable jockey Graham Lee over tactics, with the trainer fearing that Divers had left his charge too late before overhauling the AP McCoy-ridden Quantitativeeasing on the heart-stopping climb to the line.

“I wasn’t too cool watching the race as Graham had him last turning in, but that’s him,” said Murphy, whose Poker de Sivola was sixth in the Cross Country race.

Lee, however, was conscious about the need to save ground and cut corners. He was right.

“The horse has been trained really well and huge credit goes to the horse,” said the winning jockey, who rides Murphy’s Kalahari King in tomorrow’s Ryanair Chase. “Ferdy wanted me to keep him out wider but I said there was no chance and I’d keep him as close to the rail as I dare.

“It was rough at times, but he fenced beautifully and was very clever with his feet.

“At the second-last he stood up well, despite being in trouble, and got over it and in the end I’ve got there too soon.

“The satisfaction of winning a race here at any stage of your career tops everything.”