Murphy Hoping To Deal An Ace

Ferdy Murphy has high hopes this season for his exciting second-season chaser Aces Four.

The eight-year-old was beginning to give Denman something to think about in the Royal & SunAlliance Chase at the Cheltenham Festival before making a mistake three fences from home.

But he made no mistake at Aintree with an imperious performance and looked like following up at the Punchestown Festival before falling at the last.

He will start off in either the Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon (November 24) or the Charlie Hall at Wetherby (November 3) before a tilt at the King George on Boxing Day.

'He's coming along fantastic. Graham (Lee) has done a bit of schooling on him and ridden a few bits of work,' said Murphy.

'He seems to be stronger and better again this year so we are thinking that the Charlie Hall is a possible.

'Graham will ride him again on Tuesday and after that we will be making a plan with him.

'He has plenty of pace, as he showed at Aintree, but in any good race over three miles there you still have to be able to stay to win and it takes a good horse to win there.

'We were having a bit of fun that day (at Cheltenham) when he just missed three out, but that was just unlucky and normally he is very good over his fences.

'He had a little problem with his wind early last year but that was all sorted so I think you will see quite a bit of improvement. I think Cheltenham, Aintree and Punchestown proved that.

'If anything, the way we are looking at him this year he has improved again but all novices are expected to do that.

'We'll consider the Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon as well as the Charlie Hall, then we'll look at the King George ? and that looks like being the race of the century the way everybody is talking at the moment so it should be great.

'You could finish fifth or sixth in that and run a hell of a race.'

(C) PA Sport