Interview with John Murphy, trainer of Newmill: Brian O'Connortalks to west Cork trainer John Murphy who is upbeat about Newmill's chances of retaining his Champion Chase crown today
Coming as he does from west Cork, an area where locals believe an inferiority complex would only leave them feeling as good as anyone else in the country, it's hardly surprising John Murphy is exuding confidence in Newmill's chances of successfully defending his crown this afternoon.
After all, the horse has travelled to Cheltenham from a place that the trainer believes to be the perfect spot to prepare a top National Hunt horse.
"I know some people think we are a bit out of the way but in fact it's a huge benefit being based where I am. Staff wise, we are in the ideal place. The best point to point riders are available, and so is the quality staff," he says.
"I would find it very difficult to train on the Curragh for instance. Horses must get bored there. Okay, we're two and a half hours from Kildare, but it's the same for trainers there having to get to the likes of Tralee, Listowel or Tramore. No, where we are is a big plus," Murphy adds.
Upton, near Innishannon, about 15 miles west of Cork city, is his base and it's where Newmill has been trained for today ever since taking his own career, and Murphy's, to another level with a swaggering Champion Chase victory last year.
In the immediate aftermath of that success, the scale of the achievement was more than a little overshadowed by Moscow Flyer's retirement. But another pulverising success at Punchestown a month later only confirmed the presence of a new champion, and also a new trainer from the south to reckon with.
Murphy has been training for eight years and has built up a dual-purpose operation that has already collected a Group Three prize, the Ridgewood Pearl Stakes with Pout last year, and now contains other good horses such as Friday's Triumph Hurdle contender, Convincing.
For someone whose original passion was for the show-jumping arena, it has been quite a journey, but along the way he learned the value of trusting his own judgment.
Not afraid to follow his instincts, Murphy's belief that Newmill's talent is enough to make him a serious Champion Hurdle contender if necessary resulted in the horse being left in yesterday's big race up to the final declaration stage.
For some other trainers, such a move might have been regarded as a "going-through-the-motions" exercise. With Murphy though, few doubt he would have switched if he felt conditions were unsuitable for today's big chase.
It's that sort of self-possession that has helped him guide Newmill through a winter dogged by terrible weather and even more terrible frustration.
"It has been awful seeing all these valuable races going by and not being able to run because of the ground. But ever since Punchestown last year, he has been trained with Cheltenham in mind and all the pressure hasn't changed that," he says.
Sure enough, an occasional downside of being in charge of a star like Newmill is the increased public scrutiny that comes with him which brings its own attendant pressures.
"There is a bit of stress. There's no doubt about that. The horse is being eagerly watched by everyone in the press and the public. And it's been a very difficult year because of the ground. But I'm happy with the way we have done things," Murphy declares.
Of course, most questions centre on Newmill's chances of a repeat and while his trainer is characteristically upbeat, he is also aware of the scale of the challenge.
"It's a much hotter contest this year, no question. You've got a previous Cheltenham winner in Well Chief who is a link with the day when Moscow Flyer and Azertyuiop were running in the Queen Mother. He is a huge worry, considering the way he won at Newbury.
"Voy Por Ustedes is another course winner and he has been hyped up as the new two mile star in England. And then there's Nickname who has been the undisputed revelation in two-mile races in Ireland this year. But they will be worried about us too.
"Our horse feels stronger this year and I've been very pleased with him since he beat Macs Joy at Gowran," Murphy reports.
Today's big race will also be fascinating in a tactical sense. Last year, Newmill blazed from the start and no one got near him. It is unlikely to happen again and the trainer says: "You can't do that on this sort of ground. He's well able to sit in and we'll let Ashley Brook hopefully do the work."
Certainly the west Cork roar if Newmill emerges best again will be colossal. And as Murphy will be the first to tell you, rebel throats are pretty used to being called into service.
After all, Whyso Mayo landed the Foxhunters last year and it's only 11 years since Imperial Call scored a memorable success in the Gold Cup.
At the time, Fergie Sutherland's horse looked good for more than one taste of festival glory but it didn't work out. Newmill though is only two miles away from carving out his own unique place in Cork sporting history as a back to back champion.
In the circumstances then, his trainer could hardly be anything else but confident.
