Horseracing: Murphy’s Tavern heads for Arkle
Ferdy Murphy today nominated the Irish Independent Arkle Challenge Trophy as the likely target for his exciting Truckers Tavern at the Cheltenham Festival.
The seven-year-old, winner of his two starts over fences as well as his sole outing over timber, holds entries in both the two-mile novice championship on March 12 and the Royal & SunAlliance Chase over an extended three miles the following day.
‘‘He’ll go to Towcester next for a £20,000 two-mile novice chase (the Barry Cope Champagne & Seafood Novices’ Chase on January 31), then he goes to Ireland for the (Dr P.J) Moriarty Novices’ Chase,’’ Murphy said.
‘‘We’ll decide then which way we go but, even though he’s in the SunAlliance, it’s not a race I would really want to run him in.
‘‘We’ll see how it goes but I’d much prefer to run him in the Arkle.
‘‘He’s one of those horses who’s learning all the time.
‘‘In time, he’s going to be a very good horse and that’s why I don’t want to go down the real tough route with him he’s still only young.’’
Truckers Tavern slammed the useful Indien Du Boulay by 11 lengths on his chasing bow at Ayr in December, and only had to be shaken up to account for Lord Sandrovitch at Newcastle earlier this month.
Murphy has also entered Man On The Hill and Historg for the SunAlliance.
A winner of four chases since leaving Martin Pipe for Murphy, Man On The Hill ran a tremendous race on his first try in Grade One company when fourth in the Feltham Novices’ Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day.
He was still travelling well turning into the straight but a blunder at the third-last knocked the stuffing out of him and his chance was effectively gone.
‘‘It’s been his target all along that’s the race for him,’’ said Murphy. ‘‘JP (McNamara) was a bit annoyed that he didn’t kick turning in (at Kempton). He was turning in on the bridle, cruising.
‘‘He just took a half length at the first one in the straight and it was just a shame but those things happen. He really came back at them but just missed the last again and was only beaten two or three lengths.’’
And Murphy feels his David Johnson-owned charge is suited to staying trips.
‘‘Staying was no problem to him,’’ he explained. ‘‘JP was happy enough with him staying. He just got outpaced when he made that mistake at Kempton.’’
Historg fell at the last when still in contention behind Ifni Du Luc and Direct Access at Haydock on Saturday in a two mile six furlongs novice event.
‘‘He was running a blinder on Saturday and he’ll probably go for the SunAlliance as well,’’ Murphy added.
‘‘He’ll stay further. He was staying on at Haydock and Adrian (Maguire) thought he would have just got close enough to Mick (Fitzgerald on winner Ifni Du Luc). I’m happy with him.’’
