Murphy spells out Passion fears

TIMMY MURPHY believes Irish raider Wild Passion will be the main threat to his mount Marcel in today's ladbrokes.com Tolworth Hurdle.

Marcel has won eight races for trainer Martin Pipe since switching from France, but he tasted defeat when only second to Astronomic at Haydock last month.

Pipe’s five-year-old has since bounced back with a Grade Two win at Windsor, but he will clash with his Howard Johnson-trained conqueror again at Sandown.

However, Murphy believes he has more to fear from Noel Meade’s Wild Passion, winner of the Grade One Royal Bond Novice Hurdle at Fairyhouse on his last start.

“Astronomic is a good horse but I wouldn’t be afraid of him. I think the main threat comes from Ireland’s Wild Passion, who has a lofty reputation,” Murphy told Teletext. “His rider Paul Carberry has been in great form - he has a similar style to myself and you won’t see a better jockey at playing the waiting game.”

Marcel is the 9-4 favourite for the race with both Ladbrokes and totesport, while Wild Passion is a 3-1 chance.

Astronomic is a best-priced 7-1 with the sponsors and his owner Graham Wylie hopes the race will help him decide whether the horse is Cheltenham material.

The five-year-old son of Zafonic was trained in France by Andre Fabre before switching to the Crook base of his current handler.

He has made a promising start, winning both his hurdle races to date, but Wylie is keen to see how he goes in Grade One company.

“Astronomic is in good form so we are looking forward to going to Sandown, but it’s a very hot race,” he said.

“We have three possibles for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle - Astronomic, Arcalis and Coat Of Honour - so we want to give them another run and then make our plans to see whether we go up or down (in class) with them.”

Paul Nicholls gives his interesting French recruit Made In Montot a tough start on his British debut.

The Video Rock gelding has already beaten Marcel in France, but Nicholls does not believe today’s result will be a repeat of that form.

“This is his first run for me but when in France, Made In Montot gave Marcel 7lb and a five-length beating. Don’t take that literally as Marcel has improved a ton since joining Martin,” he said.

“We had to start somewhere, so the Tolworth it is. He doesn’t show much at home, but I have a feeling he’ll come alive on the track.”

Phar Bleu, already a winner at the highest level after his success in the Finale Juvenile Hurdle, has been declared by trainer Georgina Browne, but he will only run if there is rain at the Esher track.