Ferdy Murphy has decided to take his star chaser Paris Pike to Ireland for the Ericsson Chase at Leopardstown on December 28 rather than take up the gauntlet in the Pertemps King George VI Chase at Kempton 48 hours earlier. Paris Pike ran his first race since winning the 2000 Scottish National when he reappeared at Kelso last week, and he pleased his connections when finishing second to Weaver George. He was only beaten a length when trying to give 27lb to his race-fit rival.
Murphy reasoned: "He came out of the race spot on and worked brilliantly on Friday - his owner (Ivan Straker) came down that day and we had a long chat about it before deciding that we would go to Ireland. Ivan feels that a left-handed track, like Leopardstown, suits the horse better, though Adrian and I don't feel he has any problem going right-handed like they do at Kempton."
He continued: "But I think the Ericsson may be the easier race and the better commercial proposition anyway and we will also take either Granit D'Estruval or Occold over with him for the Paddy Power Chase on the same day - that is a very valuable handicap."
Filed by Shane Murray
