Murphy Hoping For Carberry Commitment

Ferdy Murphy has approached leading amateur jockey Nina Carberry to take the ride on Nine De Sivola in the National Hunt Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

The seven-year-old was travelling ominously well in the corresponding race last season when he tipped up three fences from home.

He then went on to finish runner-up in both the Scottish and Irish Grand Nationals but as he has yet to win a race over fences, he is still eligible for novice chases.

'Nine De Sivola will run at Plumpton on February 11 in a three-mile-two-furlong novice chase and then we will go back to try to win the four-mile amateur riders' race at Cheltenham, that is the plan anyway,' said Murphy.

'There is a bonus on offer for any horse that can win at Plumpton and go on to win at the Festival.

'We've approached Nina Carberry to take the ride so hopefully that will come off.

'He'll run there, he's worked and he's ready. He's a bit like Another Promise in that he had a lot of runs last year and it was always going to be a spring campaign this time.

'You would think that unless something comes out of the woodwork, he would be a short-priced favourite for the four-mile race and then I would think he'll take in the Scottish and Irish Nationals again,' he told At The Races.

(C) PA Sport