Murphy`s waiting for National weights

Ferdy Murphy is eagerly-awaited the publication of the weights for the Martell Grand National on Tuesday as the Middleham trainer has two live prospects in Streamstown and Paris Pike.

Streamstown returned to his best form with victory in the Singer & Friedlander National Trial at Uttoxeter yesterday while Paris Pike, the 2000 Scottish National winner, is set to run in the AON Chase at Newbury on Saturday.

'Streamstown ate up last night and he`s gone out into the paddock for a couple of hours. I couldn`t be happier with him,' said Murphy today.

'We`ll look at what the weights aren like for the National on Tuesday.

'He`s in the De Vere Gold Cup at Haydock. If it comes too quick so be it, but we`ll definitely be having a look at that and he`ll probably go in the five-day stage and then take it from there.'

But Murphy could miss out that race on February 23rd even though the horse is owned by the Haydock Park National Hunt Partnership.

He said:'It`s possible he could go to the National without another run. He`s a horse that`s easy enough to gauge.

'The handicapper will definitely have a look at him. I hope he isn`t too hard on Streamstown and I don`t think he will be. Phil Smith is fair and a fantastic handicapper.

'We couldn`t be happier with the horse at the moment. People were saying things about him, but he was fifth in the Charlie Hall and sixth in then Hennessy and I wish I had a few more even without yesterday`s win that were doing things like that.'

Murphy revealed that Streamstown`s poor run at Wetherby over Christmas can be put down to a boil infection which also explains Sea Drifting`s disappointing performance in a novice hurdle at Uttoxeter yesterday.

'Sea Drifting was scoped after the race and found that he had a boil which had burst. He was obviously suffering a bit in the race.

'I think that`s what happened. He had a boil infection on his lungs and got some blood on his lungs. They can`t breath properly and that`s probably what happened to him.

'I think that`s what happened to Streamstown at Wetherby. He never travelled in that race. We took him home, put him on meedication and after about a week he came out of it well.'

How Paris Pike fares in the AON, where he could face the 2000 Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Looks Like Trouble, will determine his plans for the rest of the season.

'He runs on Saturday and that race will decide what he do with him. Also, what happens with the National weights on Tuesday will play a part as well.

'It`s a possibility he`ll go to Aintree. The National is something that the Major (owner Ivan Straker) would like to win.

'We`ll have a look at the Tuesday weights, then get the AON out of the way and have a meeting with the Major and decide what to do with the horse.'

Murphy`s exciting young chaser Truckers Tavern is set to travel to Ireland for the Moriaty Chase over two miles and five furlongs on the Irish Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup card at Leopardstown next Sunday.

'It`s worth 120,000 Euros and looks like being a hot contest, but he might as well go and take his chance.

'It will be another step on the ladder for him,' said Murphy of the seven-year-old, who took his 100 per cent record over fences to three with victory on testing ground at Towcetser on Thursday.

The trainer will not be tempted to run Truckers Tavern at the Cheltenham Festival if ground conditions are not suitable.

'If the ground is good he won`t go to Cheltenham, but we`ll see what happens. However, the way the weather is going it might be wet in which case he would go for the Arkle with Man On The Hill going for the SunAlliance.'