GRAND NATIONAL: Ferdy Murphy is eagerly-awaiting the publication of the weights for the Grand National tomorrow, for the Middleham trainer has two live prospects in Streamstown and Paris Pike.
Streamstown returned to his best form with a hard-fought victory over Tony Martin's It's Himself in the National Trial at Uttoxeter on Saturday, while Paris Pike, the 2000 Scottish National winner, is set to run in the AON Chase at Newbury on Saturday.
"We'll look at what the weights are like for the National on Tuesday," said Murphy.
"He's in the De Vere Gold Cup at Haydock. If it comes too quick so be it, but we'll definitely be having a look at that and he'll probably go in the five-day stage and then take it from there." But Murphy could miss that race on February 23rd even though the horse is owned by the Haydock Park National Hunt Partnership.
"It's possible he could go to the National without another run. He's a horse that's easy enough to gauge."
How Paris Pike fares in the AON, where he could face Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Looks Like Trouble, will determine his plans for the rest of the season.
"He runs on Saturday and that race will decide what he do with him. Also, what happens with the National weights on Tuesday will play a part as well," added Murphy.
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/irishtimes/YVIRIOZQ35EWRPZXR27KGMO6YU.png)