Grand National Festival: 'Strong' team for Murphy

Strong Leader is set to captain a stacked Aintree team for Olly Murphy when the title-holder defends his Liverpool Hurdle crown on Merseyside.

The eight-year-old gave the Warren Chase handler just his second Grade One triumph when galloping to victory in the three-mile event 12 months ago and was last seen finishing fourth in the Cleeve Hurdle on Cheltenham Festival Trials day.

Like many of Murphy’s string, Strong Leader skipped an appearance at the Cheltenham Festival in order to head to Aintree fresh and the trainer is relishing returning his star hurdler to a venue where he has some exceptional form figures.

“Strong Leader has been trained for the Liverpool Hurdle and he loves it there on a flatter track,” said Murphy.

“I’m really looking forward to running him and he’s just come into his coat and is looking well. When he’s good, he’s good, but when he’s not, he’s not. If he turns up on his best day, then he will go there with a good each-way chance.”

Murphy could also be represented in Grade One contests at Aintree by Fingle Bridge – last seen beating Paul Nicholls’ Regent’s Stroll in an Exeter Listed race – and National Hunt Chase fourth Resplendent Grey, who could be equipped with cheekpieces for a shot at the Huyton Asphalt Franny Blennerhassett Memorial Mildmay Novices’ Chase on April 4.

Murphy said: “Fingle Bridge will run in the two-and-a-half-mile novice hurdle (Turners Mersey Novices’ Hurdle, April 5) and he looked very good on his last start at Exeter. He would want a little bit of cut in the ground, but he’s a horse we think the world of.

“We might run Resplendent Grey in the three-mile Grade One and we might just fit him with a pair of cheekpieces. He ran very well to finish where he did in the National Hunt Chase, considering where he came from.

“We’ll also have plenty for the handicaps, Go Dante will run in the two or two-and-a-half-mile handicap hurdle after winning the Imperial Cup and Wade Out will run in the two-and-a-half handicap also – and he could have a nice mark. He’s won three novice hurdles this season.”

Also on course for an appearance on Merseyside is Murphy’s recent Greatwood Gold Cup scorer Booster Bob, who fresh from his remarkable Newbury success could tackle the Grand National fences in the Randox Supporting Prostate Cancer UK Topham Handicap Chase (April 4) or step up to three miles for the valuable William Hill Handicap Chase 24 hours later.

“Booster Bob will either run in the Topham or the three-mile handicap chase,” added Murphy.

“Jumping is not the issue, so I would have no problem running in the Topham if the ground was slow, but if it wasn’t, I would say he is more likely to run in the handicap chase on the Saturday.”