Racing: Murphy to be back for Azertyuiop
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Your support makes all the difference.If a strange-named outsider causes a big stir in the Champion Hurdle betting market tomorrow then Timmy Murphy is anxious to be part of it. The Irish jockey said last night he would return from injury to partner Azertyuiop in the Kingwell Hurdle at Wincanton.
Murphy has been troubled by a shoulder strain but, after physiotherapy treatment yesterday, he said he would be back in action at the Somerset track tomorrow, notably to partner Azertyuiop, whose name comes from the top line on a French typewriter.
The five-year-old, trained by Paul Nicholls, was cut by Ladbrokes from 33-1 to 25-1 yesterday for the Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival on 12 March. The Tote still offer 28-1.
John Hales, the horse's owner, said that Azertyuiop had won five out of six races before disappointing in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton. "I noted that the bookies dropped him from 12-1 to 33-1 on that Kempton form. I'm not a big betting man but, after Paul told me the horse had been coughing, I had the biggest bet of my life."
Hales added: "I think he'll run a big race because Cheltenham could be made for him. He's a very strong and powerful horse, but he's very quick at the same time. I know Paul thinks very highly of him. I think we've got a good chance. It's nice to have a forgotten horse in the Champion Hurdle. Hopefully you will see a far different horse at Wincanton. He's only ever had one bad run."
The Kingwell Hurdle has frequently had a big influence on who finishes in the first three in the Champion Hurdle – notably with Alderbrook, who won at Wincanton before going on to take the Cheltenham crown in 1995.
* Miros, who had been second-favourite for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham, died on the gallops yesterday. His trainer, Jonjo O'Neill, said: "He was out at exercise and had done one canter. He was walking back to do a second canter and he dropped dead. He was a grand horse and had never had a vet to him in his life."
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