Murphy looking to end on a high

It would be irregular if Ferdy Murphy failed to pocket at least one major spring prize and he suggested Riguez Dancer could be a horse to restore the status quo after success in the A. P. Security Handicap Chase at Ascot yesterday.

Three Scottish Grand Nationals, one Irish, 10 Cheltenham Festival winners and two Bet365 Gold Cups, including last year’s, attest the capability of Murphy to produce staying handicappers at just the right time.

This has been a lean season for his North Yorkshire stable with just 21 minor wins on the board and no Cheltenham arrows, including Riguez Dancer himself, particularly close to hitting the target but there are many of Murphy’s favourite races still to be staged.

Riguez Dancer (4-1) made little impression in last month’s JLT Specialty Handicap Chase at Cheltenham but seemed to take a drop in distance and class well to stride three and a quarter lengths clear under Tony McCoy.

“He ran over three (miles) at Cheltenham more as a day out for the owners and this was a nice little pot,” said Murphy.

“Tony said he was just feeling the ground a little but he did wonder whether he might be a Scottish National horse.

“He’s versatile and does remind me a bit of (2005 winner) Joes Edge.

“He’s won over two miles on the Flat and what you want in the Scottish National is a horse who can mix up trips and who jumps well. I’ll speak to the owners, as there’d be other options at Ayr too.”

* Pepite Rose could have her next start in a Grade One at the John Smith’s Grand National meeting.

The Venetia Williams-trained five-year-old has blossomed since going over fences and has won her last four.

She never came off the bridle in winning the Listed mares’ final at Newbury last weekend and will head to Liverpool in search of better ground.

“She has been a revelation since turning to fences, making it four from four with a very easy win at Newbury in a course record,” said her jockey Aidan Coleman in his Racing UK blog.

“The original thought was to go for a Grade Two handicap at Cheltenham’s April meeting, but the ground is likely to be too fast then, and we have more of a chance of the going being easier at Aintree in a couple of weeks.

“If she does go that route she will be pitched in at Grade One level in either the novice chase over three miles and one furlong or the more likely option of the race over two and a half miles.

“It will obviously be a far tougher examination for her taking on the geldings at that level, but at least we would know where we are with her, and she would certainly have earned her place in that company.”