John Murphy

High-class older horse White Birch (GB) (Ulysses {Ire}) is set to miss the remainder of the season due to a hock injury, it was announced on Monday. Trained by John Murphy, White Birch kicked off the campaign in the best possible fashion with three straight wins at the Curragh, notably gaining his first success at the top level when last seen beating Auguste Rodin by three lengths in the Tattersalls Gold Cup in May. That performance identified him as potentially a leading player for the major middle-distance prizes during the summer,...

The big rematch between Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) and White Birch (GB) (Ulysses {Ire}) is on as the pair are set to line out in the Prince Of Wales's S. at Royal Ascot on Wednesday. Last season's dual Derby winner Auguste Rodin had the edge in those Classic contests, but it was John Murphy's White Birch who accounted for Aidan O'Brien's colt in the G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh last month. Nevertheless, the bookmakers have the Ballydoyle runner as their favourite at odds of 7-4, expecting...

In rude health for Sunday's G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup at The Curragh, Chantal Regalado-Gonzalez's White Birch (GB) (Ulysses {Ire}--Diagnostic {GB}, by Dutch Art {GB}) readily put old rival Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in the shade for a career-best success. Behind that Ballydoyle supremo in the Derby, the John Murphy-trained grey had returned this term to garner the track's G3 Alleged S. and G2 Mooresbridge S. and the backers were suitably respectful as his odds hardened to 15-8 before the off. Cruising under a confident Colin Keane with Auguste...

Continuing his perfect start to the current campaign, Chantal Regalado-Gonzalez's White Birch (GB) (Ulysses {Ire}) added The Curragh's G2 Coolmore Stud Sottsass Irish EBF Mooresbridge S. to last month's G3 Alleged S. success with the minimum of fuss on Monday. Third in the Derby last June after taking the G3 Ballysax S. and finishing runner-up in the G2 Dante S., the John Murphy-trained grey stalked the leader Greenland (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}) early under Colin Keane before taking over approaching the two-furlong pole. Too strong from there, the 2-1 favourite...

Dylan Browne McMonagle has been provided with a golden opportunity to record his first Classic success in the saddle with the news that John Murphy has snapped up the young riding sensation for White Birch (GB) (Ulysses {Ire}) ahead of Sunday's Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby.  White Birch overcame a nightmare start to finish an excellent third in the Derby behind Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}). He was ridden at Epsom by Colin Keane but, with the reigning Irish champion jockey suspended for Sunday's highlight, Murphy has turned to...

John Murphy has reported White Birch (GB) (Ulysses {Ire}) to have come out of his third-placed Derby effort in good order and says that he is looking forward to the rematch with Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in the Irish equivalent at the Curragh insisting "there's no hiding now". Despite breaking slowly at Epsom on Saturday, White Birch made tremendous late ground to finish a good third under Colin Keane, leaving connections optimistic about what the future may hold for the grey. "It was a relief. We were absolutely...

John Murphy has described himself as very lucky to have come across Betfred Derby contender White Birch (GB) (Ulysses {Ire}) and says that his 14-1 chance for Epsom glory is more than worthy of his shot in the line-up for the eagerly-awaited Classic.  White Birch identified himself as a bona fide Derby prospect when streaking to G3 Ballysax S. glory at Leopardstown earlier in the season. From there, he went on to overcome a tardy start to finish an excellent second behind The Foxes (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) in the G2...

White Birch (GB) (Ulysses {Ire}) has been confirmed for the G3 Derby Trial S. at Leopardstown on Sunday. A winner last out of the G3 Ballysax S., the colt would follow in the wake of Battle Of Marengo (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), Broome (Ire) (Australia {GB}), and Bolshoi Ballet (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) as colts to have won both of the Irish Derby Trials in the past 10 years. If successful, the G1 Betfred Derby could be on the horizon at Epsom on June 3. "He came out of the race at...

Dreamloper's owner-breeder Olivia Hoare has admitted to being overcome with emotion ahead of a trip of a lifetime to the Breeders' Cup to see her dual Group 1-winning homebred bow out from racing on the biggest stage of all. Trained by Ed Walker to win two top-flight races at ParisLongchamp this season, Dreamloper (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) is likely to race for the final time in the GI Breeders' Cup Mile given the 5-year-old is entered up in the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale next week. The decision to...