Murphy powerhouse in rude health

Ferdy Murphy has pinpointed L’Antartique as his stable’s main hope for the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham on November 17.

Murphy last year went close with New Alco, who is entered again along with Another Promise and Three Mirrors.

But it is last season’s Cheltenham Festival winner, who runs in the Colin Parker Memorial Intermediate Chase at Carlisle this weekend, who looks like being his leading contender.

“L’Antartique runs on Sunday and that is going to tell us a little bit more and there are only four runners so we will have to see how he goes,” said Murphy.

“At the moment he looks like being our number one contender.

“Another Promise had a lot of racing last year so you probably won’t see him until later on, he’s very well at the moment.

“The plan was always to give him about four runs this year and that would be taking in the Festivals, probably taking in the Ryanair Chase as well.

“He’s still a young horse really, he had plenty of racing last year and they are not machines. He looks like he has got another four full seasons racing in him if we take care of him.”

L’Antartique is currently 12-1 with the sponsors for the Paddy Power Gold Cup.