Murphy aims Big Fella at Hennessy Big Fella Thanks should be in top form for his seasonal bow in the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury next month, according to trainer Ferdy Murphy. The eight-year-old won one of four starts for Paul Nicholls last term and signed off with a creditable fourth in the Grand National at Aintree. He has switched yards over the summer months though and Murphy reports him to be making great progress as he builds towards his return. "He's settled in fantastically well. He's done quite a bit of work and his first outing will be the Hennessy," said the Leyburn handler. "I think he'll hit that spot-on - he's a really high-class individual and we're thrilled to have him. "You would like to think his best days are ahead of him as he's improving all the time." Murphy has plenty of horses to look forward to this year, with Champion Chase third Kalahari King heading the team. "He goes to Huntingdon for the Peterborough Chase, that will be his first run, and then we will decide where we go for the rest of the season," explained Murphy. "There's the King George to think about, but that looks like being a seriously hot race this year." Poker De Sivola won the National Hunt Chase at the Cheltenham Festival last season but proved a bit disappointing when pulled up in the Scottish National on his final start. That race is the target again this term but Murphy has a different gameplan in mind. "He'll probably have a couple of runs over hurdles and his long-term plan would be the Scottish National - he's an ideal horse for that race," he told At The Races. "We'll probably swerve Cheltenham and keep him fresh for that." Murphy also has high hopes for The Hollinwell who won twice last campaign before breaking a blood vessel and being pulled up in the Jewson at the Festival. "He goes to Carlisle at the end of the month and has improved quite considerably from last season," he added. "His campaign will be aimed at the Ryanair at the Festival."
