Murphy pins hopes on Carberry
05 Mar 2008
Ferdy Murphy hopes Paul Carberry and L'Antartique strike an instant rapport when they combine to tackle the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham on Thursday of next week.
The eight-year-old is two from two at Cheltenham, but will be without regular partner Graham Lee as he continues his recovery from injury.
Murphy told At The Races: "The one we would be very hopeful for is L'Antartique. He won the Paddy Power and he won the Jewson last year. Paul Carberry has never ridden him, so things are a bit up in the air as to how he'll get on with him."
He went on: "He is a horse Graham has got a fantastic tune out of and he's ridden two incredible races on him to win both times.
"They were big fields and it took a fair bit of nerve to do what he did on him."
Lee's enforced abse nce from the saddle means Murphy has had to organise alternative bookings for some of his Festival hopes.
Tony Dobbin will ride Kalahari King (Supreme Novices' Hurdle), Davy Russell will be on New Alco (William Hill Trophy) and Naiad Du Misselot (Coral Cup), while Keith Mercer partners Ivoire De Beaulieu (cross-country) and Richard Harding rides Noir Et Vert (Kim Muir).
Shane Byrne is due to ride Joes Edge if he runs. - attheraces.com
I will be following Ferdys team of staying chasers until the end of the season.
Ferdy Murphy Stable Tour
01 Mar 2008
By Gordon Brown
FERDY MURPHY is no stranger to success at the Cheltenham Festival and enjoyed a big-priced double last year with L’Antartique and Joes Edge to take his tally at the big meeting to seven.
When Ferdy saddles a winner at Cheltenham it can often be at rewarding odds - Joes Edge and L’Antartque combined for a 1070-1 double 12 months ago - so don’t be put off by the price!
Here are his plans for the 2008 Festival.
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TUESDAY
2.00 Anglo Irish Bank Supreme Novices' Hurdle
KALAHARI KING
Cost 50,000gns at Doncaster in the spring of last year and looks cheap by today’s standards. A Listed winner in his native France, he has taken to hurdles well apart from one below-par effort at Doncaster. His win at Musselburgh in December was most impressive and he would probably have won at Newcastle in his Festival prep but for racing on the unfavoured side of the run-in.
“Timmy Murphy felt that if he’d brought him up the stands side he would have won at Newcastle. His schooling has been electric right from the start and Graham Lee says he’s a machine. He was beaten first time by the longer trip and being a little too exuberant but he’s a horse we’ve always liked. He’ll love the hustle and bustle of Cheltenham and he’s probably our best chance of a winner.”
4.00 William Hill Trophy Chase
JOES EDGE
Won the William Hill Trophy 12 months ago and hasn’t been seen out since pulling up at the 20th in the Grand National in which he was sent off 8-1 co-favourite. Set to carry 10st 4lb at Aintree this year and is clearly a spring horse as he won the 2005 Scottish National. Stays and jumps well and always seems to come to life at Cheltenham.
“He's fine now but struck into himself at Aintree and it caused some serious bruising but luckily no tendon damage. He did well in the William Hill last year and it helped that the leaders again went off far too quickly and came back to him. He’s named after one of the owners’ grandfather and they’ve had a great time with him. Good ground brings out the best in him and this is his time of year. Hopefully he’ll go back to Aintree again.”
NOIR ET VERT
Was just pipped in a good handicap at Punchestown last April and is another with plenty to recommend him at this time of year. Enjoys good ground but has been placed on soft and heavy. Has been given 9st 12lb in Grand National and also a possible for Scottish equivalent.
“He didn’t jump as well as we know he can at Punchestown and was only short-headed on the line after leading six out. When he got him home he was lame in front with a septic corn. He’s fine now and has been trained with Cheltenham and the good spring races in mind.”
4.40 BGC Cross Country Handicap Chase
IVOIRE DE BEAULIEU
Has won eight times over fences in the French provinces including in cross country company. Scored over Cheltenham’s cross country circuit on his UK debut in 2005 and appears quite well treated on that form as he’s currently on a 1lb lower mark. Not getting any younger but still seems an enthusiastic old stick.
“He’s been there and done it a few times in France and in Britain. He’s also won a staying hurdle at Sedgefield for us on soft ground and any rain between now and the start of the Festival would certainly help our chances.”
WEDNESDAY
4.00 Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle
NAIAD DU MISSELOT
Started his winning habit by seeing off the reliable Bywell Beau on Boxing Day 2006. Best form with plenty of cut and stays quite well although has plenty of solid form around two miles. Lightly-raced type that is sure to have improvement in the locker.
“He’s a nice young horse with a bright future and I like him a lot. We finished him off early last season because of a splint problem but he’s fine now. He won really well at Haydock over two and a half miles and he’s gone up 9lb for that. He’s a chaser in the making but has been trained with this in mind for this season.”
THURSDAY
2.35 Ryanair Chase
L’ANTARTIQUE
A much-improved performer this term and he has progressed by around a stone on his way to victories in the Paddy Power Gold Cup and an intermediate chase at Carlisle. He was a little too keen for his own good when stepped back up to three miles in the Lexus Chase and trailed home a well-beaten last behind Denman. Cheltenham's two and a half miles should be ideal as he’s unbeaten in previous course and distance raids — his other win coming in the Jewson Novices’ Handicap Chase at last year’s Festival.
“He’s effective on most ground but good is ideal for him. I’ve always regarded him as high class and he does everything you ask of him at home. He just seems to click at Cheltenham as he always saves his best for there. You can forget his last run at Newbury in the Game Spirit Chase as the trip was too short. He took off from two out and was staying on all the line to the line. I reproduction of his Paddy Power form should see him go very close in the Ryanair Chase.”
4.00 Racing Post Plate Handicap Chase
NEW ALCO
Took to the British scene very well, winning over hurdles and fences. Has form on most ground and stays 3m+ although pretty effective at around 2m 4f. Impressive in graduation chase at Carlisle in November when ridden from the front but needs to bounce back from below-par efforts in Hennessy and Boylesports.com Gold Cup.
“Last season he was really consistent without winning and went up nearly a stone in the process. He has strengthened up and could still be on the upgrade. He’s been placed in several of those tough Cheltenham handicaps in the past. He’s going there nice and fresh having not run since December and that’s probably the way to get the best out of him."
FRIDAY
5.45 Vincent O'Brien County Handicap Hurdle
DANCER’S SERENADE
Cost 42,000gns when bought out of Tom Tate’s yard in the spring having won three times on the Flat and once over hurdles for his old connections. He’s won at Wetherby and Haydock for his new yard and gone up the thick end of a stone and a half in the process.
“He’s won at two and two and a half miles for us and looked pretty professional before disappointing in the Totesport Trophy. He returned from Newbury very flat and we’ve been freshening him up. I know he’s got winning form on the Flat and over hurdles in the soft but I actually think he’s better on good ground.” - attheraces.com
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