News From Ferdy Murphys Yard At West Witton

Ferdy Murphy is planning to make raids on the Irish and Scottish Grand Nationals over the next fortnight.

He did not have a runner in this year's Aintree spectacular, is aiming Poker De Sivola at the Irish version at Fairyhouse on Easter Monday.

The West Witton trainer said he was pleased with the six-year-old after finishing seventh on his last start in the Kim Muir Challenge Cup at Cheltenham.

The following weekend Murphy will head for Ayr with Hot Weld and stablemate Nine De Sivola to make a bid for the Scottish marathon.

The pair finished first and second in the 2007 renewal of the race but Hot Weld has struggled to regain his form since taking the BetFred Gold Cup at Sandown just a week after his Ayr triumph.
The 10-year-old was pulled up in both his two starts since injuring himself in that race, firstly at Doncaster in February and then again in the William Hill Chase at Cheltenham.

Nine De Sivola in comparison ran a fine race at the Festival, finishing third in the four-mile National Hunt Chase. "Poker De Sivola will go to Ireland next Monday for the Irish National," said Ferdy. "He's very well and ran a good race in the Kim Muir. Hot Weld and Nine De Sivola will go to Ayr."

Saturday's Maghull Novices' Chase winner Kalahari King looks likely to head for Sandown to contest the bet365.com Celebration Chase later this month. After finishing a close second in the Arkle Trophy at Cheltenham last month, the eight-year-old confirmed himself as a top-notch novice chaser with a smooth eight-length victory over Tatenen.

Ferdy, who also has a choice of two races at the Punchestown Festival as possible alternatives, said the horse had returned from Aintree in tremendous form. "He cantered out this morning and was bouncing, so you wouldn't know he'd had a race," added the trainer. "He's really well and fresh and well we're delighted with him. He's done it well, he seems to thrive at this time of the year and move forward. "We'll be making two entries for him for Punchestown on Wednesday in the two-mile novice and a speculative one in the Grade One. "He'll also have an entry in the Celebration Chase at Sandown and that's probably favourite where he'll go. He'll have a 4lb penalty for that."