Murphy has faith in National outsider

Ferdy Murphy believes outsider Haut De Gamme is a “massive price” for the John Smith’s Grand National at Aintree on Saturday week.

The 11-year-old is a 40-1 shot with both William Hill and Ladbrokes despite winning at Wetherby in January before running with credit at Uttoxeter last time.

Stable jockey Keith Mercer has chosen to partner Haut De Gamme rather than last year’s Scottish National winner Joes Edge and Murphy believes he has excellent claims.

“Davy Russell rides Joes Edge while Keith rides Haut De Gamme,” said Murphy.

“Haut De Gamme’s very good on a flat track and he would handle any sort of ground so I’m not too worried about that for him.

“He is a spring horse and is very well at the moment. He worked this morning and he did a brilliant piece.”

Haut De Gamme finished a narrow second in the Topham Chase over the National fences last year and he put in another good performance when a close-up fifth in the Becher Chase last November.

“I know Keith is excited about riding him, he’s had two runs around Aintree, second in the Topham and fourth in the Becher,” Murphy told At The Races.

“He’s extremely well and should be a fantastic ride and I think he’s one of the few horses that will be flying in the finish. He’s a massive price.”

Murphy is concerned by the prospect of soft ground at the Liverpool venue for Joes Edge.

The nine-year-old, last seen when well down the field in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, has not won on testing ground before.

The West Witton handler added: “He wouldn’t want it soft at all and we would have to speak to the owners if it was soft and he might well go for the Scottish National or something.

“He has to have good ground but for the other horse it wouldn’t matter as he’s won on very heavy ground.

“For Joes Edge, if it did come up soft I would be very worried.”

Joes Edge is a general 33-1 shot.