JOHN Murphy has made headlines in recent years for his handling of the Group 1 Tattersalls Gold Cup winner White Birch, but all the while, the point-to-point sphere has remained on the radar of the Cheltenham Festival-winning trainer.

Ably assisted by his son George, the pair have taken a more selective and targeted approach to their runners between the flags in recent times. Two seasons back, they ran three horses in the sphere, producing a four-year-old maiden winner in Rubber Ball and a five-year-old runner-up, Sheer Joy.