Murphy edges towards Irish National
Murphy did not manage a winner at the Cheltenham Festival, but after reaching 50 for the season with Dolmur at Hereford yesterday, he explained Joes Edge’s performance in the Jewson Novices’ Handicap Chase last week.
“He made one desperate mistake when he was travelling well and it basically knocked him right out of it,” said the Leyburn handler.
“As long as he continues to please me in the next few days I will definitely run him in the Irish National.”
Murphy saw Europa experience similar bad luck at Cheltenham in the Mildmay Of Flete Chase and will now point the gelding at the John Smith’s Grand National.
He added: “He was brought down when travelling beautifully, but I’ve always thought Aintree would play to his strengths and that’s where we’re going with him.”
Irish Grand National:
Cashmans bet: 8/1 Well Presented, 10/1 Numbersixvalverde, What Odds, Nil Desperandum, 12/1 Ansar, Colnel Rayburn.
Meanwhile, Edredon Bleu looks set to have just one run next season if connections can find a suitable race so that he can bring down the curtain on his distinguished career with a win.
Although the veteran chaser was as good as ever last season, winning all his five starts including the King George VI Chase, he has been unplaced on every run this time around.
Trainer Henrietta Knight has repeatedly scotched any suggestion that he has lost his enthusiasm for racing.
He was pulled up in his latest outing in the Daily Telegraph Trophy at Cheltenham last week, and owner Jim Lewis admitted himself that father time is catching up with the horse.
“There is no doubt that retirement beckons - the old boy is 13 years old,” said Lewis.
“He has won 24 times from 49 runs, and wouldn’t it be good to have 50 runs and 25 wins?
“We are going to give him the summer off and a good old rest, and talk come the beginning of next season.
“If we could find a suitable race for him, that would be his swansong and he can go out with a bit more dignity.”
Lewis gave his assurances that Edredon Bleu would not be running at all next season if his trainer was not completely happy with him, and added: “He owes us nothing and I just want to do the right thing by him.
“We will probably run him at the end of the year, but you can be assured that ‘old blue’ will be looked after properly.”
The Worcestershire-based owner also announced plans for another of his runners, Impek, who finished a decent fifth to Fota Island in the Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase last week although he has not won since December 2003.
Although capable of competing against the best, Impek has never quite fulfilled his potential and plans are afoot to give him an outing over the National fences in the John Smith’s Topham Chase on April 8.
“He is a bit frustrating as he does have the talent,” explained Lewis.
“He was inconvenienced by loose horses last time, and we are talking or thinking about the Topham at Aintree.
“We will just see how we go the nearer we get there. He is a great leaper, and it might suit him.”
