Warwickshire trainer Olly Murphy on "high-class" Resplendent Grey and his Cheltenham and Grand National plans
Warren Chase-based trainer Olly Murphy has his eyes on two big prizes for his stable star
At the reveal of the Grand National weights in Liverpool on Tuesday afternoon, Murphy outlined that stable star Resplendent Grey will head to Cheltenham next month for the Festival - with two possible entries - before making any plans for a tilt at the Grand National at Aintree in April.
Resplendent Grey was handed a weight of 10st 11lb for the World's Greatest Steeplechase in Liverpool, described by Murphy as a "nice weight" for the marathon contest but first, his attentions will turn to Prestbury Park first for the Ultima before any decision is made on his participation at Aintree.
Speaking to Racing TV, who have the latest free bets for Cheltenham, Murphy said: “It’s a nice weight. When he’s good he’s very good.
"He will go to Cheltenham in the meantime and we’ll see how we get on there and then make a plan regarding Aintree.
“Whether he’s a horse for a year down the line or for this year I’m not quite sure yet - I’ll have to speak to his owner. But he’s a high-class horse on his day and obviously stays very well.
“He’ll either go for the Gold Cup or the Ultima. We’ll see what weight he gets in the Ultima and then we’ll make a plan. I haven’t had a runner in the National so obviously I’d love to be involved, but we’ll see what happens at Cheltenham. The owner’s keen to go there first.
“He’s a high-class stayer and he’s a horse that when he gets into a rhythm he’s very good, but when he doesn’t get into a rhythm he runs no race. It’s certainly a race we’re thinking about, whether it’s this year or next year. To be my first runner it would be very exciting.
“I don’t see any reason why he can’t carry on improving. He was a little bit inconsistent at times and hopefully that’ll come out of him now.
"He’s in good form now. He’s going to have a racecourse gallop at Warwick on Friday but I thought it was a very good run, having to give weight to Protektorat round a sharp track. I look forward to going back to a bigger track over further.”