Green Ideal Heads Ferdy Murphy´s Wetherby Raiding Party

Ferdy Murphy is looking to plunder some big races on the second day of Wetherby´s bet365 Charlie Hall Meeting on Saturday, October 28, with hopes especially high for Green Ideal in the #25,000 Weatherbys Bank Handicap Chase (2.20pm), run over an extended two and a half miles.

The eight-year-old, a dual-winner around that trip last season, was pulled up in a valuable handicap chase at Ireland´s Punchestown Festival in April on his latest outing, but the North Yorkshire-based trainer reckons his charge is in good order ahead of his reappearance.

'Green Ideal is a definite starter in the Weatherbys Bank Handicap Chase and the more rain the better for him - he really comes into his own on a testing surface,' commented Murphy this morning.

'He actually ran quite well at Punchestown in April - he was bang there at the third last, but then got struck into, and Timmy (Murphy) had to ease him down.

'One day he will win a decent prize. He´s a very tough horse and a good money spinner. He´s been working very well and would be my best chance of a winner at Wetherby this weekend.'

Murphy is considering an ambitious tilt at the #90,000 Grade Two bet365 Charlie Hall Chase (3.25pm) with Leading Man, a 33/1 chance with the sponsors. The six-year-old landed the One Man Novices´ Chase at the track over the same three mile and one furlong trip last December, but failed to get competitive in three subsequent starts, pulling up behind The Bajan Bandit at Ayr on his last outing in February.

'If the rain comes he could go - we will monitor the weather, although he will need his first run,' explained the North Yorkshire-based handler.

'He won the One Man Novices´ Chase impressively at the track, so the bet365 Charlie Hall would be a nice race to start him in. If the ground stayed as it is (currently good to soft, soft in places), we would definitely consider the contest.

'We made a mistake running him at Cheltenham after Wetherby, where he got jarred up on ground too lively for him. But he´s been put away and has grown up a lot, and he looks like a nice horse for the future.'

The opening event on Saturday, October 28 is the #20,000 Listed Constant Security Wensleydale Juvenile Novices´ Hurdle (1.45pm) over two miles for three-year-olds. Murphy has two entries, headed by French recruit Poker De Sivola, a promising second on his British debut behind another possible runner in European Dream over course and distance on October 11.

'Poker De Sivola needed the race first time at Wetherby and has come on for the run, but I think we´ll be struggling to beat Katchit [won both hurdle starts] - he looks very impressive,' Murphy continued.

'My one is an AQPS (non-thoroughbred) horse from France and once we get into the new year he will go over further. He did a nice piece of work this morning.

'Speed Up is a nice horse and another possible for the race, but no decision has been made about him.'

The trainer confirmed that both Carlys Quest and Ile Maurice would take their chance in the #40,000 Grade Two John Smith´s Hurdle (2.50pm), despite admitting they would be playing 'second fiddle' to the likes of Black Jack Ketchum and My Way De Solzen, while Joes Edge will most likely head for the #8,000 bet365 Handicap Hurdle (5.10pm) over an extended two and a half miles, ahead of a chasing campaign.