ferdy murphy - 1-1

his chances today. The consistent
Marlingford re-opposed again
but although never having
finished out of the frame, he
wasn’t seriously expected to
trouble the favourite.
Muse, trained by David
Elsworth, was a very interesting
proposition.
Owned by the many members
of White Horse Racing Ltd,
there was a lot of friendly
banter between the two groups
of owners for while Hopscotch
had already shown what she
could do on a racecourse, Muse
was making his debut.
Muse, however, was very
highly thought of by Elsworth
and subsequent events over the
years would see Muse finishing
second in the Sun Alliance
hurdle at the Cheltenham
Festival, beating Morley Street
around Ascot and finish a
close up sixth in Flakey Dove’s
Champion hurdle.
Today he was third favourite
although his odds of 16-1
looked remarkably generous.
Of the other two runners,
Tomahawk was making his
debut and Souter’s Hill was
racing on the back of two very
modest wins, having finished
behind Marlingford on his first
run over hurdles.
As the tapes rose Peter
Scudamore sent Hopscotch
into the lead by just a length
from Muse, Master Dancer and
Tomahawk with Marlingford,
Souter’s Hill and Native Tribe
evenly spaced out in Indian file
behind.
At the second flight of hurdles
Hopscotch had doubled her lead
to two lengths from Muse and
Tomahawk while Master Dancer
lost a few places and Native
Tribe was running poorly at the
back of the field.
While Hopscotch flicked
over the next, Muse showed
his inexperience by flattening
the hurdle and pecking badly
although he appeared to lose
no ground in doing so.
By the next Muse had closed
Hopscotch down to just a length
with Tomahawk, Souter’s
Hill and Marlingford all close
enough if good enough while
Master Dancer was running in
snatches and Native Tribe was
becoming detached at the rear
of the field.
At the fifth Muse went to join
Hopscotch but a slight mistake
still left him a length adrift
of the fluent jumping leader,
Souter’s Hill was running
well in third and then a gap
appeared before Tomahawk and
Marlingford, Master Dancer
running on again and a long
way back to Native Tribe who
would soon be pulled up.
Over the next and running to
the top of the hill and Hopscotch
still led with Muse closing the
distance to just half a length,
Souter’s Hill was coming under
pressure a few lengths back in
third with Tomahawk closing
him down then five lengths back
to Marlingford and a similar
distance to Master Dancer.
Swinging down the hill
Hopscotch picked the pace up
and Muse sent another hurdle
flying as he was joined by
Tomahawk. Round the home
turn with just one flight left to
negotiate the cheers went up
for the favourite.
A group of White Horse
Racing owners were getting
very animated about their
special interest in Muse
while a similar group of Pipe/
Scudamore Racing owners
cheered vociferously for their
own runner. Into the home
straight and Scudamore kicked
Hopscotch on again to go
five lengths clear, Muse was
running on again in second
with Tomahawk, Souter’s
Hill, Marlingford and the fast
finishing Master Dancer in a
line of four just two lengths
further back.
As they came to the last
Hopscotch was six lengths to
the good and popped it easily
while Muse, under strong
riding, gave chase as best he
could for a tired horse, Master
Dancer staying on well in third
with the others dropping out of
contention.
By the line Hopscotch had
been pushed out with just
hands and heels to record a 10
length victory from the game
Muse and Master Dancer.
As Hopscotch was being led
in a group of around 20 of the
owners excitedly made their way
to the winners enclosure, on an
incredible high and animatedly
reliving the race now that the
nerves and tension had gone.
Another similar sized group
of owners awaited Muse with
obvious pride and pleasure in
his showing.
It was truly something special
to be a proud part owner of such
a wonderful and resilient mare,
even more special to cheer
home a winner at Cheltenham
and then wait in the hollowed
ground of the winners enclosure
for her to be led in.
The day and memories were
fully complete when my wife,
Mignon, was chosen by the
racing manager, Barry Simpson,
to collect the winning trophy on
behalf of the club.
By the end of that wonderful
season the darling of the Pipe/
Scudamore plc racing club had
plundered 11 first prizes and
was rightly rated as one of the
top five juveniles of the season.
Perhaps more importantly, a
considerable number of people
who could never afford to own
a racehorse of their own had
experienced what would have
been beyond them if it were not
for such racing clubs as this.
The Mecca of National Hunt
racing have a Hall of Fame
adjacent to the course where
all the great horses which have
graced Cheltenham down the
years are immortalised and
alongside the likes of Golden
Miller and Arkle can be found
the name and story of the only
horse to have won an incredible
six races at Cheltenham in
one season; our own dear
Hopscotch.
Racing Ahead 45