Olly Murphy
Olly Murphy has made a great start as a trainer in his own right after assisting Gordon Elliott for four years in Ireland
Murphy’s
ROAR Olly Murphy learned his trade from a master in Gordon Elliott and has the same determination to one day be the champion of his profession Interview: Tim Richards Photos: George Selwyn
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as the young Olly Murphy’s original ambition to be a jockey? Yes, until weight and size got in the way! I rode 25 point-to-point winners and six under Rules. I had four or five years as an amateur, enjoying a good craic and learning a bit about pace and race-riding, which can be a big help when you start training. I did plenty of pony club, hunting and a bit of eventing. I even enjoyed helping the valets look after Allen Webb, Jim Culloty and Rodi Greene in the jockeys’ room. But Panorama did a piece on television saying I was under age and because of health and safety I had to stop. It was at Upper Sapey point-to-point that I went out on a winner, but by then the scales had won. I had trials for Coventry City at 15 but racing got the better of me and I just played football on Sundays instead of four days a week after school. Now I just go and watch Aston Villa as much as I can and train for a couple of the Villa players. How did you decide that the time was right to start up on your own in England in 2017?
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I just thought Gordon Elliott had achieved an awful lot in the time I was working for him and I was always told it’s best to get out when people are at the top. I’m sure the way Gordon’s going he will be right up there for many years to come. I had learnt loads. Racing is a young man’s game and the time was right after nearly five seasons there. I wanted to enjoy the game myself, so I came home. The biggest challenge at the beginning was everyone waiting for me to fall flat on my face, having spent all that time with Gordon… going round with my eyes closed and learning nothing. I must admit I felt the whole world was sat on my shoulders, then all of a sudden the pressure came off with my first winner, Dove Mountain, at Brighton. You spent two summer school holidays followed by four years as assistant to the great Gordon Elliott in Ireland. What responsibilities did that involve? I did a lot of racing, worked in the office, ran some syndicates and dealt with owners. Gordon’s head man, Simon McGongle, who runs the yard
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14/12/2018 18:34