Murphy to check Down Royal track

Ferdy Murphy is planning to walk the course at Down Royal on Monday in the hope of giving Truckers Tavern the go ahead to tackle the following weekend’s James Nicholson Wine Merchants Champion Chase.

The Middleham trainer has targeted the prestigious contest as a launching pad for his stable star in a campaign aimed again at the Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup, a race in which the gelding finished second to Best Mate last season.