Horse Racing: Pike set for Aon date

Paris Pike’s run in Saturday’s Aon Chase at Newbury will determine his plans for the rest of the season, according to trainer Ferdy Murphy.

The 10-year-old gelding, who won the 2000 Scottish National, is set to face Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Looks Like Trouble in the contest at the Berkshire track.

Murphy is also eagerly awaiting the weights for the Martell Grand National which are released on Tuesday before finalising plans for Paris Pike.

He said: ‘‘He runs on Saturday and that race will decide what we do with him. Also, what happens with the National weights on Tuesday will play a part as well.

‘‘It’s a possibility he’ll go to Aintree. The National is something that the Major (owner Ivan Straker) would like to win.

‘‘We’ll have a look at the Tuesday weights, then get the Aon out of the way and have a meeting with the Major and decide what to do with the horse.’’

Murphy has another live contender for the Aintree spectacular in Streamstown, who returned to his best form with victory in the Singer & Friedlander National Trial at Uttoxeter.

The trainer was thrilled with the eight-year-old’s performance and is already planning a tilt at the National with the Rashar gelding.

‘‘Streamstown ate up and he’s gone out into the paddock for a couple of hours. I couldn’t be happier with him,’’ said Murphy.

‘‘We’ll look at what the weights are like for the National on Tuesday.

‘‘He’s in the De Vere Gold Cup at Haydock. If it comes too quick so be it, but we’ll definitely be having a look at that and he’ll probably go in the five-day stage and then take it from there.’’

But Murphy could miss out that race on February 23 even though the horse is owned by the Haydock Park National Hunt Partnership.

He said: ‘‘It’s possible he could go to the National without another run. He’s a horse that’s easy enough to gauge.’’

Murphy revealed that Streamstown’s poor run at Wetherby over Christmas can be put down to a boil infection.