Murphy upbeat about Lady

Colm Murphy hopes to know more in the next week about the prospects of his unbeaten Feathard Lady making it to Cheltenham for the Smurfit Champion Hurdle.

The impressive winner of the Stan James Christmas Hurdle is currently being box-rested after injuring her off-hind fetlock joint, but Wexford-based Murphy rates her prospects for Cheltenham as better than 50-50.

“The AIG will come too quick for her, but Brave Inca will run in that,” said Murphy. “She is coming along grand, but the next week will tell us more.

“She is being box-rested, but we will start cantering her as soon as we can and she is improving. The next week will be important.

“It is just bad timing, but I would say her odds are better than 50-50 for Cheltenham, where Ruby (Walsh) will hopefully keep the ride.”

Murphy added he hoped Tony McCoy will be aboard Brave Inca in the AIG Europe Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown on January 29, but that his availability for Cheltenham rested on his commitments to JP McManus, who has Lingo entered for the race.