Paris return delights Murphy Paris Pike found the in-form Weaver George too good for him on his return to the fray in the Tote Placepot Champion Chase at Kelso today but he is now set for a big step up in class over the Christmas period.William Hill have eased him from 25-1 to 33-1 in the betting for the Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup, and have left him on the 33-1 mark for the Martell Grand National.But he has other important dates before the spring as Murphy explained: 'The plan is to go for either the King George VI Chase at Kempton or the Ericsson Chase at Leopardstown.'We will give him a racecourse gallop two weeks before, we want to be sure he is 100 per cent before going for either race, but at least he is perfect after today`s race and I could not be more pleased with his performance.'Paris Pike was having his first run since winning the Scottish Grand National in April, 2000, but he started favourite for this three mile and one furlong test and he gave his supporters a good run for their money in the hands of Adrian Maguire.But Weaver George, receiving 27lb from the runner-up, was always holding too many aces for him on run-in and, eased into the lead at the elbow by Graham Lee, he beat the market leader by a cheeky length to stretch his winning sequence to five.Buck`s Palace was the only other finisher a distance away in third.Paris Pike had been out of action with a near-fore tendon problem since winning the Scottish National in April last year, and Murphy added: 'Adrian gave him a lovely ride, it was good to find a race like this for him at Kelso and he jumped well and enjoyed himself - but the main thing was to get this one out of the way.'The biggest problem really was his adverse reaction to the local anaesthetic, the leg blew up like a balloon but fingers crossed everything will be all right in the morning too.'Lenny Lungo is enjoying a purple patch and a 17-1 double with Yankee Jamie and Lord Of The Sky took his score to nine in the space of eight days - and 29 overall for the season.
