FERDY Murphy has had a mixed week. The Quads was an eye-catching second in the Sporting Index Chase, the cross-country race at Cheltenham, on Friday under Paul Carberry.

At Ayr next day, Luzcadou won well under new stable jockey Davy Russell, who turned professional last week. It was this horse which fell and injured Adrian Maguire last March, the cause of his retirement. We were delighted to see the former jockey on Channel 4, where his comments added much to the interest in the racing.

Of our 15 to Follow, Ryalux (Andy Crook) gave us our third win when luck fell his way at Ayr on Saturday as the long-time leader fell, hampering Murphy's Ballinclay King - still, a win is a win.

Brian Ellison sent out Latalomne to a Cheltenham Sunday hurdles race, taking advantage of his lower mark over timber, but the confidence booster only saw him fifth. Ferdy Murphy's novice Sea Drifting fell at Newcastle on Friday in Man Murphy's race, but his day will surely come.

Murphy faced the Jockey Club Disciplinary Committee on Wednesday and was found guilty of bringing racing into disrepute for his remarks on the Kenyon Confronts television programme last June. He was fined £4,000 and said: 'They have to be seen to be strong and deal with the matter as they see fit.'

The West Witton trainer was filmed covertly by Paul Kenyon, posing as a potential owner, and asking how horses were 'stopped' (prevented from winning).

The JC director of public relations, John Maxse said: 'Firstly, Ferdy's comments were broadcast on national television and secondly, it cannot be seen as being acceptable that a trainer can encourage a potential owner to buy a horse in the way that he did.'

Racing Week feels that although Murphy's remarks were perhaps injudicious, they were gained by entrapment and broadcast without his permission. His record on the course must surely go a long way to negating any suggestion of 'disrepute'.

Of his Middleham neighbours, George Moore is in full swing at present, while Jedd O'Keeffe sent out Route Sixty Six to a chasing win, adding to flat and hurdles successes before.

From our other training bases, Mary Reveley's purple patch continues, Howard Johnson and Norman Mason both persist in winning and Tim Easterby had another victory.

Bob Woodhouse certainly has found that winners are like buses - none come for ages (four months in his case), then lots altogether. He added two more this week, to his two last week.

On the level, the all-weather front is, as we predicted, already proving profitable for Bryan Smart, Patrick Haslam and Karl Burke.

Neville Bycroft, whose last - and only - summer winner was his own homebred Tedsdale Mac at Nottingham in April, sent out another in his own colours at Southwell. This was Efimac, a Presidium filly bred near Northallerton by the trainer's long-time comrade in arms, Tom Umpleby, out of his useful mare Efipetite.

David Barker sent out another homebred, this for Peter Asquith, when Celtic Mill won at Wolverhampton. This gelding is by Celtic Swing, out of Madam Millie, and Fergal Lynch was in the saddle.

THE WEEK'S WINNERS

Key: Meetings are now all National Hunt (jumping) except AW (Flat on all-weather; ev = evening meeting; f = furlong (8f = 1 mile); chs = steeplechase; hdl = hurdle; NHf = National Hunt flat race (bumper); mdn = maiden; nov = novice; juv = juvenile; clmr = claiming race (entries can be claimed by sealed bid tenders); sllr = selling race (winner auctioned after race, other runners can be claimed); hcp = handicap; cnds = conditions race; clfd = classified stakes, a limited hcp; ltd = limited hcp; lstd = a Listed race; Gp = Group race (1, 2 or 3 shown); amtr = amateur riders; appr = apprentice riders; cond = conditional (jumps apprentice) riders; Hb = homebred by owner (or one of the owners). FtF = from our 15 to Follow.

Fifteen: Barton Dante, B The One, Direct Route, Exstoto, Hussard Collonges, Last Option, Latalomne, Moss Harvey, October Mist, Random Native, Red Striker, Ryalux, Sea Drifting, Silver Knight, You're Special.

Thursday last week. - No DST area winners at Ludlow, Taunton, Lingfield AW.

Friday. - Newcastle: (juv nov hdl) Cheyenne Chief (trained by George Moore, at Middleham; owned by John Lishman), ridden by Niall Hannity (claiming 3lbs allowance); (nov chs) Man Murphy (Mary Reveley, Lingdale; W Manners), Paddy Aspell (5)l (hcp chs) Emperor's Magic (Norman Mason, Brancepeth; permit holder), Richard Guest; (hcp hdl) Grattan Lodge (Howard Johnson, Crook; W M G Black), Graham Lee.

Wolverhampton AW: (7f hcp) Celtic Mill (David Barker, Scorton; Hb, P Asquith), Fergal Lynch.

Saturday. - Ayr: (hcp chs) Luzcadou (Ferdy Murphy, West Witton; A G Chappell), Davy Russell; (hcp chs) Ryalux (FtF) (Andy Crook, Coverham; William Lomas), Andrew Thornton.

Wetherby: (amtr mdn hdl) Flossy Tops (Bob Woodhouse, Welburn;lDavid Scott), Mr Nicky Tinkler; (sllr hdl) Ashgar (Micky Hammond, Middleham; Jay Dee Bloodstock Ltd), Paul Flynn; (nov hcp chs) Sir Storm (George Moore; J R F (Management Consultants) Ltd), Warren Marston; (nov hcp hdl) Mr Mickey (Tim Easterby, Great Habton; David & Stpehen Dudley), Richard McGrath.

Sunday. - Ayr: (juv nov hdl) Quarter Masters (George Moore; The Dowdstown Boy's), Niall Hannity (3); (nov chs) Route Sixty Six (Jedd O'Keefe, Coverham; Weatherby Racing Bureau 47), Brian Storey; (nov hcp chs) Sir Norman (Bob Woodhouse; M A Sawyer), Padge Whelan (5); (hcp chs) Star Jack (Jimmy FitzGerald, Norton; Mr & Mrs Raymond Anderson Green), Wilson Renwick.

Haydock: (hcp hdl) Junkanoo (Mary Reveley; Hb, Lucayan Stud), Alan Dempsey; (NH nov hdl div 2) Malek (Mary Reveley; Mrs J W Furness & Lord Zetland), Fergus King (7)

Monday. - Woverhampton AW: (6f mdn) Bond Royale (Bryan Smart, Hambleton; R C Bond), Fergal Lynch; (8f mdn) Mr Mischief (awarded race) (Patrick Haslam, Middleham; Blue Lion Racing), Lee Enstone (5).

Tuesday. - Lingfield AW: (7f hcp div 2) Golden Brief (Karl Burke, Coverham; Hb, John Kelsey-Fry), Fergal Sweeney.

Kelso: (nov sllr hdl) Lady Lap Dancer (Mary Reveley; Mrs C Strang Steel), Alan Dempsey.

Wednesday. - Southwell AW: (8f hcp) Creskeld (Bryan Smart; Creskeld Racing), Chris Catlin; (6f clmr) Efimac (Neville Bycroft, Brandsby; trainer), Chris Catlin