Paris to Leopardstown

Tomorrow`s Ericsson Chase at Leopardstown has attracted classy field with Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup favourite Sackville set to face eight rivals.

The only British raider to cross the Irish Sea is Paris Pike.

Ferdy Murphy`s charge bids to improve on his seasonal reappearance when he was a one length runner up in trying to concede 23lbs to Weaver George in a Kelso Handicap Chase at the beginning of the month.

Paris Pike had previously been off the course since winning the Scottish National last year but he showed at the Borders track that he retains his ability.

Murphy had considered running the nine-year-old in yesterday`s Pertemps King George VI Chase but instead plumped for what he perceives to be an easier trip to Leopardstown in a bid to land a share of the near-IR#75,000 prize on offer.

'It`s a left-handed track in preference to a right-handed track - even though he has won right-handed, the only time he ever got beat for me was going right-handed,' said the Middleham trainer today.

'He probably didn`t jump as well that day as he could have done so, you know, this looks the easier of the two options.'

Adrian Maguire, who steered Florida Pearl to glory yesterday, will be chasing his second big prize in three days, and Murphy paid tribute to the jockey`s performance at Kempton.

'They all go on about the power of (Tony) McCoy,' he said. 'But if you had a look at the race from the last they showed the side on view of Adrian and him and there`s very little between them and you can see why Toby Balding said there isn`t.

'Adrian`s riding out of his skin, he`s never ridden better.'

Although he feels the Francis Crowley-trained Sackville and Foxchapel King, trained by Mouse Morris, are the main dangers tomorrow, Murphy is wary about the remainder of the opposition.

'You have to respect near enough everything,' he admitted. 'In all of those Grade One races you have to be at your best, you fear everything.

'Nobody runs a horse in a race like that unless they feel they have a bit of a chance.'

Should all go well tomorrow, the trainer will be looking for another visit to his home country.

'We`ll be looking at the Irish Hennessy or something like that but the main thing is to get this out of the way then decide whether we go for the Grand National or the Gold Cup,' he concluded.

Meanwhile, Florida Pearl`s trainer Willie Mullins feels his representative Alexander Banquet may need the run in the three-mile contest.

'I think when you`ve been off for so long you do need the run,' he conceded. 'However, he always run well fresh I have to say. If he finishes in the first three I`d be happy.'

Mullins feels Miss Crowley`s charge is the one to beat.

He said: 'Sackville is fit and well tomorrow and is going to be hard to beat. If my horse finishes in the first three I`d be delighted. As long as he comes back sound.'

Ericsson Chase: Alexander Banquet, Ferbet Junior, Foxchapel King, Moscow Express, Native Upmanship, Paris Pike, Rince Ri, Sackville, Wicked Crack. (8)