Murtagh eyes Naas after taking out jumps licence

JUMPS LICENCE: Johnny Murtagh will ride over hurdles this winter after taking out a jumps licence in Ireland.

The 35-year-old rode 48 winners on the Flat in Britain this year - including Motivator in the Derby - but has gained permission from the Irish Turf Club to begin a career over timber. He will be retained by Michael Halford, for whom he also rides on the Flat.

"I am looking forward to this new challenge," he said. "It will help keep my eye on the ball, keep me fit, keep me well, and it should be a lot of fun.

"I just quite fancy riding a few winners over the jumps. I had a spell hurdling about 10 years ago but probably wasn't right for it then. I just think the time is right now to have a good go at it."

Murtagh, who has yet to win over hurdles, hopes to ride at Naas on Saturday and Navan on Sunday. And if things work out he also hopes to make his mark jumping in Britain.

"If I get to ride good horses, I'll be going anywhere," he added.

"I got my licence today and my agent Eddie (Byrne) is on the case, so hopefully I'll be riding at the weekend."

BEST MATE: Jim Lewis has chosen to have Best Mate's ashes located at the scene of his three Cheltenham Gold Cup victories.

Exeter, where the 10-year-old died during last week's William Hill Haldon Gold Cup, was also considered by the owner, as Best Mate had won on his previous three visits to the Devon track.

"Obviously, it was not an easy decision to make as there are very good reasons he should be at Exeter and very good reasons he ought to go to Cheltenham," Lewis told the Racing Post.

"But I discussed it with the family and we decided he should be laid to rest at the scene of his biggest triumphs, so we have accepted Edward Gillespie's (Cheltenham's managing director) kind offer.

"Exeter has been marvellous from the beginning and we are planning to have a plaque there, hopefully near where he died, with a suitable inscription."

BANGOR OFF: Today's meeting at Bangor has been abandoned because of waterlogging. Clerk of the course Ed Gretton said: "We've had to knock it on the head I'm afraid.

"We've had two-thirds of an inch of rain, and that coupled with the high local water table has meant we've had to abandon.

"The river is nearly flooding and by tomorrow (Wednesday) will probably have done so.

"We've got waterlogged areas on the course and it's just not going to abate."