Kap Boy

The early signs were not entirely smooth. On his hurdling debut at Chepstow, regular partner Harry Cobden pulled him up, convinced the horse had gone wrong mid-race. He came back completely sound — it seemed he had simply knocked something, nothing more — and Murphy kept faith, describing him at the time as "a big baby" and being clear that the hurdles career was always seen as a stepping stone. The long-term plan is over fences, and everything about how the yard has handled him reflects that. He has been looked after, not overworked.

Kap Boy's two wins have both come at Class 4 level — the fourth tier of British racing — where he has been nothing short of excellent, winning 2 of his 5 races at that level, a 40% win rate. That is a horse who, given the right conditions and the right grade of race, delivers. His most recent victory came at Perth in October 2025, six months ago, and his last six runs read: a win, a second, two thirds, a ninth, and a fifth — form that suggests a horse more than capable of running into the places even when the win is not coming.

Murphy's yard has been in outstanding form this season, sending out 146 winners — a number that reflects an operation in serious health. Kap Boy is just one piece of a large, well-organised puzzle, but he is an interesting one. He raced just yesterday, which means he is fit and active, and with the team always having had one eye on his chasing future, the next chapter may well be the most compelling one yet.