Murphy hoping for something Special
The bookmakers offer the huge prize to any horse that can win at the Cheltenham Festival before going on to success in the Grade Three feature on the final day of the jumps season at Sandown.
You’re Special has his Festival win in the bag after taking the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup, although Murphy could have opted to run fellow Cheltenham winner Hot Weld, successful in the National Hunt Chase, instead.
However, he believes six-time chase winner You’re Special stands a better chance of landing the jackpot than his more lightly-raced stablemate.
“We had the choice between running him and Hot Weld but we felt Hot Weld probably wasn’t experienced enough for a big race like the Betfred,” explained the Leyburn handler.
The gelding was partnered by amateur Richard Harding at Cheltenham but Lee steps in as he seeks a first win in the race.
“You’re Special did a very good piece of work on Friday morning and the best news of all is that we have booked Graham Lee,” added Murphy.
“He likes decent ground and it looks like he has a good racing weight so I’m hoping for the best.
“The bonus on top of the prize money makes it a very good pot to aim at.”
Ladbrokes make You’re Special the 8-1 co-favourite along with Eric’s Charm and Innox.
Paul Nicholls, the champion trainer-elect, could run four horses as he bids to seal the championship in winning style.
The Ditcheat handler has left in top weight Royal Auclair as well as My Will, Cornish Rebel and Lou du Moulin Mas.
Stable jockey Ruby Walsh would have the choice of mounts but My Will’s owner Andy Stewart expects him to ride his horse in the three-mile-five-furlong contest.
“Paul has left four in. I’m not sure if all of them will run but I believe Ruby will be riding My Will,” said Stewart.
Sandown clerk of the course Andrew Cooper is predicting good ground for the two-day meeting which gets underway on Friday and features action both over the sticks and on the level.
Cooper said: “Peter Hobbs from the Jockey Club came to the track this morning to do our pre-Flat season course inspection and we were both pleasantly surprised by the condition of the track.
“It’s been a very difficult spring for us all and it wasn’t really until Easter that the grass started to grow.
“It has been a difficult job to get the ground back after a full season of jumps racing but it’s looking good now and is currently good, good to firm in places.
“We are now working on the basis of it being dry from Tuesday onwards. We will keep trickling along on the watering of the jumps course and hopefully it will be goodish ground at the weekend.”
Betfred Gold Cup betting:
Ladbrokes: 8-1 Eric’s Charm, Innox, You’re Special, 10-1 Irish Hussar, Jack High, Lacdoudal, 12-1 Liberthine, Point Barrow, Rodalko, 14-1 Inca Trail, My Will, One Knight, 16-1 Cornish Rebel, Presenting Express, Puntal, Risk Accessor, 20-1 A New Story, Royal Auclair, 25-1 It Takes Time, Lou Du Moulin Mas, Therealbandit, 33-1 bar.
