Cleeve Hurdle run to dictate Strong Leader's spring plans - while Sir Alex Ferguson-owned stablemate also handed Trials day option
Olly Murphy believes his stable star Strong Leader will bounce back from a below-par run in the Long Walk Hurdle but admits it will take a big run in this month’s Cleeve Hurdle for connections to consider a Stayers’ Hurdle bid.
Strong Leader gained a first Grade 1 success in the Liverpool Hurdle at Aintree’s Grand National meeting in April and made a successful return in the Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury in November.
However, the Welfordgolf Syndicate-owned eight-year-old finished last of ten when the 11-8 favourite at Ascot last month and has since undergone wind surgery after an issue was found.
Strong Leader finished third behind Noble Yeats in the Cleeve Hurdle last season and is being lined up for the Grade 2 event on Cheltenham’s Trials day on January 25. He is a best-price 25-1 for the Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle with bet365.
Murphy said: “He’s going to gallop on Thursday and all being well he’ll go for the Cleeve. We were very disappointed after his run at Ascot, but he came back with a wind issue.
“We have a way to go to get back to where he was last season after that run, but he bounced back from a poor run in the Welsh Champion Hurdle in that campaign and I fully believe he can do so again.
“We might fit him with a tongue-tie, while a bit of better ground would help. He’s beaten most horses in that division and I’m looking forward to running him.
“Bar him running very well in the Cleeve, he won’t be running in the Stayers’ Hurdle and will go back to Aintree. This run will tell us a lot though and dictate our plans for the spring.”
The promising Wade Out could also feature on the Trials day card, with Murphy considering the 2m4½f Grade 2 novice hurdle or the 2m3½f Listed Sidney Banks Memorial Novices’ Hurdle at Huntingdon on February 6.
Wade Out is part-owned by Sir Alex Ferguson and has a 3-4 record under rules, winning novice hurdles at Uttoxeter and Lingfield in three starts over 2m this campaign.
Murphy said: “I’ve kept him to two miles, but he’s been crying out for two and a half and will improve massively for that. I’ve just wanted to sharpen him up and hopefully his next few runs over further will be his best. I like him and it’s a question of whether he’s a Graded novice for the spring or one for a handicap if we can get him qualified in time."
Castle Ivers, a winning hurdling debutant at Warwick in November, has been ruled out for the season with a tendon strain, while Newbury’s Listed bumper on the Super Saturday card on February 8 is an option for recent Wetherby winner Harbour Island.
Murphy said: “Harbour Island is six so we could either go hurdling with him in a couple of months or go to Newbury for the Listed bumper. He'd had a few little issues which prevented him running before recently, but he’s one we’ve always liked.”
Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle (Cheltenham, March 13)
bet365: 5-4 Teahupoo, 7 Home By The Lee, 14 Crambo, Lucky Place, 16 Lossiemouth, Corbetts Cross, Losange Bleu, 20 Hiddenvalley Lake, The Wallpark, 25 Strong Leader, Langer Dan, Mystical Power, 33 bar
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