Interview: Brian O'Connor talks to trainer Colm Murphy about recent disappointments and future hopes
If a week is a long time in politics then Colm Murphy is hoping the range of emotions that come with training racehorses means he will wind up smiling after tomorrow's AIG Europe Irish Champion Hurdle.
In the same week that Bertie Ahern limped around India, just a couple of lame steps down in Wexford were enough for some far more glum faces to suddenly appear on racing's horizon.
On Monday morning, Murphy was still in the most enviable position of any trainer on the run-up to Cheltenham's Smurfit Champion Hurdle.
Brave Inca, the warrior who originally propelled the 31-year-old from Gorey to prominence, was bang on target to try and improve on last year's narrow AIG second and Feathard Lady, despite the equine equivalent of a sprained ankle, was also still a major contender for hurdling's greatest prize in March.
To have two such quality horses from a 40-box stable is the sort of strength in depth that even Murphy's former mentor Aidan O'Brien might envy. For the winter game it amounted to a positive embarrassment of riches.
But by Monday evening racing's fickle fortunes had played their tricks again. Feathard Lady's fetlock joint was getting better, but not quickly enough. Cheltenham was out. A winter of hope and dreams finished on the evidence of a few steps outside her box.
As Murphy listened to veterinary advice to err on the side of caution and not risk his star mare, it must have been some consolation to look further down the yard and see Brave Inca in reassuringly good health.
Like O'Brien, the accountancy graduate from Waterford IT is not one for public displays of sulphuric temper. Calm diplomacy is more Murphy's thing. But Monday's setback was enough to test anyone's patience.
"You just have to cope as best you can, but I don't think you ever get used to those things happening. I suppose you simply learn to put up with it better," he says.
"I was gutted to be honest, especially after all the work that had gone in and the position she had got to. She was still the unknown. That's the thing. She must have had a serious chance and of course you would love to think she would have won the Champion Hurdle. She has what you want for Cheltenham in that she jumps well and also travels," he adds.
But the calm calculation that has resulted in a still fledgling operation expanding to include such owners as JP McManus doesn't take long to return. Murphy isn't one for wasted emotion.
"It's unfortunate definitely, but no one is dying. We will have her back and we only miss Cheltenham. It's far from the end of the world."
Especially since the stable stalwart is still hard-knocking his way towards a third consecutive Cheltenham and gathering even more conviction along the way. In 2004 Brave Inca signalled the future with a narrow success in the Supreme.
Last year it was a narrow defeat in the Champion itself. This time round he is starting to specialise in those narrow victories that somehow never quite seem to be in doubt. Jump racing's very own iron horse.
"Physically he is a lot stronger this year after really maturing over the summer break. He was basically a second season novice last year and found himself thrown in at the deep end. But he has benefited from that experience. He's a wiser horse now," Murphy believes.
There is also the presence of one AP McCoy on Brave Inca's back this season. If ever a partnership seemed made for each other it is this one. McCoy's stern demands for maximum effort have succeeded in rousing Brave Inca's phlegmatic soul to success in all but one of their four outings together.
As a result only Hardy Eustace ranks above him in the Cheltenham ante-post betting and a decisive success tomorrow could change that too. The obvious conclusion for many is that the substitution of Brave Inca's former rider Barry Cash has been vital. But Murphy doesn't buy into that.
"Barry never did anything wrong. He's just a better horse this year," Murphy argues before admitting his admiration for the 10 times British champion.
"In fairness there is only one Tony McCoy. He's the best. There's no doubt about that. But it's not just about him. It's a combination of things."
One definite change, however, has been McCoy's willingness to make the running and play to Brave Inca's natural inclination to spit in the eye of anyone who tries to pass him.
That has delivered another option and top races like tomorrow's often end up in the lap of those with the most strings to their bow.
"It means I'm not worried about who makes it. We were lucky enough Newmill set a nice pace at Christmas and we were able to sit in. But if we have to make it then we will," Murphy says before pointing out that the veteran English raider, The French Furze, has made the running in the past.
But whatever about tomorrow's outcome, the Brave Inca route has always ultimately been about Cheltenham in March. Even an AIG victory is unlikely to show the horse at his very best. Personality alone makes it so.
"Here at home there is only so much we can do with him," his trainer says indulgently. "It's simply the way he is. Runs on the track bring him on a helluva lot and even though he's getting there I still think he will improve for Sunday. It should leave him right."
Certainly another win today would end the week on a hugely positive note for Murphy. And as for Cheltenham, it's good to know it only takes one horse to win.
