Luck is not a word dominating the vocabulary of Ferdy Murphy at present. Caught in a speed trap in the early hours of the morning, the Middleham trainer then witnessed his charge Pharbrig die at Catterick yesterday just minutes after winning the first race of his life.

Pharbrig made all the running and galloped home by 15 lengths from Castletown Count in the St Pauls Maiden Chase before tragedy struck. After passing the paddock he collapsed to the ground, landing on the hard surface just a few yards from the winner's enclosure.

Spectators watched in horror as course officials quickly organised green screens to conceal the stricken horse, which had suffered a heart attack. Eventually when it became evident that nothing could be done for him Pharbrig was loaded onto the horse lorry.

The trainer was hit by more ill-fortune when Count Karmuski, the 3 to 1 favourite, fell in the sixth race. The horse escaped unscathed.

Andy Streeter's horses are running out of their skin, a point emphasised by the performance of Tilty in the Tigerline Sports Handicap Hurdle.

The eight-year-old has won at Catterick before and showed his appreciation of the sharp track, making all to defeat The Next Waltz by three and a half lengths.