Westerninthepark

The overall record — 4 wins and 9 places from 19 races, which works out at roughly 1 win in every 5 — is respectable enough. But dig a little deeper and a clear pattern emerges. Westerninthepark has not won in his last six races, and the last time he did win was at Stratford-on-Avon back in October 2024, now 18 months ago. At Class 3 level, which represents a solid step up in class, he has run seven times without winning once. He is clearly capable, but capable and consistent are two very different things.

What Murphy has been waiting for, apparently, is rain. He has been candid about it: Westerninthepark needs wet or muddy ground and a big, galloping track to show his best. When the horse ran at Cheltenham in the Kim Muir — one of the most prestigious amateur rider chases in the calendar — Murphy felt he simply did not get the conditions he needed. That is not an excuse, exactly; it is a very specific set of requirements, and until they are met, you are watching a horse run at something like 70% of his ability. On the right day, over three miles or more on soft ground, Murphy believes he has a horse who can compete in a good race.

The early signs were genuinely promising. When he first won over fences at Stratford in April 2023, Murphy described him as jumping well for a newcomer and winning comfortably once the race opened up. Jockey Harry Cobden, who rode him at Fakenham, was similarly enthusiastic — noting that while Fakenham is a tight, sharp circuit that suits a different type of horse entirely, Westerninthepark still jumped cleanly and finished strongly. Cobden's conclusion was clear: fences and a longer trip would be his thing going forward.

Most recently ridden by Sean Bowen, the pair have won once from seven races together — roughly 1 in 7 — which reflects the general picture of a horse still searching for his moment. Murphy's yard has had a strong season, sending out 146 winners, so the horses around Westerninthepark are clearly thriving. He just needs the clouds to gather.