Murphy waits on weather with Tavern

Ferdy Murphy is still hoping for a drop of rain ahead of Truckers Tavern’s intended reappearance in the James Nicholson Wine Merchant Champion Chase at Down Royal on Saturday.

The Middleham handler walked the course at the Northern Ireland venue yesterday and is keen to run his Cheltenham Gold Cup runner-up in the Grade One contest if the ground allows.

“It’s good to firm at the moment. They’ve done a wonderful job on the track, it looks in tremendous order, but they do need rain in order for us to come,” Murphy said.

“But the sky here looks like it’s bursting so I think they’ll get it all right and we’ll be okay.

“It just has a bit of firm in it, but the rain would take that out. They’ve put plenty of water on it and it would ride super if they got half an inch of rain.

“He’s in tremendous order and we’re very keen to run.

“He was one who took a bit of time last year. He needs a lot of work, but we’ve been able to get plenty into him this year and we’re happy with him.”