Murphy targets Champion Chase again with Newmill
The Cork handler again pinpointed the two-mile championship as the major aim for his emerging star, who burst onto the chasing scene when demolishing his Prestbury Park rivals in last season’s renewal.
Newmill began his campaign in lofty company over timber before graduating to the bigger obstacles.
Murphy has formulated a similar plan for the gelding this time around.
“He’s a relentless galloper and he just goes and goes,” he explained.
“Andrew McNamara rides him very well. He rides him at home too and I would say the Champion Chase at Cheltenham is very much the goal this year. He’ll probably do a bit of hurdling before and we’ll just build him up slowly again.”
Among Newmill’s potential rivals this year is the Alan King-trained Voy Por Ustedes, the impressive winner of a hot-looking Arkle at the Festival last March.
Murphy is looking forward to getting his stable star back on track but admits King’s young pretender will prove a threat to all this season.
“He is a worry as he was very impressive at Cheltenham,” he told At The Races.
Newmill is currently a best-priced 7-1 with Ladbrokes to again grab gold in the Champion Chase, with Voy Por Ustedes one point bigger at 8-1.
