Wednesday 20 April 2011

News From Ferdy


Poker De Sivola is to seek compensation in the bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown on Saturday after making an untimely exit in the Scottish Grand National last weekend.

Trainer Ferdy Murphy, who took both prizes with Hot Weld in 2007, is putting 'Plan B' into operation after his charge endured bad luck in the Ayr marathon.

Poker De Sivola was just sneaking into the race when he unseated Graham Lee at the 11th fence after being badly hampered by the fall of Cold Mountain.

The North Yorkshire handler always had the eight-year-old in the big handicap chase on the final day of the jumps season as a precaution for something going wrong at Ayr.


"He came out of it fine. You can't account for one falling in front of you, but he came out of it grand. He didn't get a scratch," said Murphy.

"Graham said he was just getting into the race but that's the way it goes sometimes. You need a bit of luck.

"The little horse is well and we're looking forward to it. He's fresh and well. He was all ready for the Scottish National - that didn't work and we had this as a back-up."