Murphy's Power Play - L'Antartique cut as O'Neill has problems with favourite

His gelding L'Antartique was initially cut to 6-1 with totesport for the big race yesterday. But last night news emerged that Jonjo O'Neill-trained 7-2 favourite Don't Push It was not certain to run.

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The only other two horses in front of L'Antartique in the betting — Granit Jack and Abragante — are not certain to make the race because they are well down the list of 38 entries with only 20 allowed to start.

Don't Push It, who was a drifter on Betfair as news of the doubts spread, is understood to have developed a problem after working.

O'Neill, who learnt of the problem while at Bangor, is expected to make an announcement this morning.

Murphy's string tend to peak in the spring when the big Festivals have commanded his attention.

But he has his stable in fine early-season form and L'Antartique has already won at Carlisle, leaving the useful Ungaro well behind.

Murphy also hopes to run the well-handicapped Three Mirrors (25-1) on Saturday. Stable jockey Graham Lee, who helped propel Murphy to a best score of 61 domestic winners and nearly £900,000 last season, has been a big bonus to the stable. He rides L'Antartique.

Murphy said: "L'Antartique had never won on a right-hand track until at Carlisle where I thought Ungaro would have been the more forward.

"He is 7lb to 10lb better going left-handed. He has a 3lb penalty for his win but he is better than ever.

"He showed he liked Cheltenham when winning the Jewson Novices' Chase at the Festival in March.

"He is looked after by a Japanese lad called Takaghi Illyama, who has been fantastic with the horse.

"He has transformed him. No one else touches him and he comes in on his days off and has really turned the horse around.

"He wants three miles and depending upon what happens in the Paddy Power (over 2m 4f) he will probably go for the Lexus Chase (at Leopardstown in December)."

Murphy is delaying the reappearance of Nine de Sivola (runner- up in the Irish National) and Hot Weld (winner of the Scottish National and Betfred Gold Cup) until after Christmas.

Nine de Sivola will be aimed at the Cheltenham four-mile National Hunt Chase while Hot Weld will have the Grand National as his target.

Murphy is keen on a French recruit Kalahari King, who is around three weeks off a run. He said: "I'd expect him to be at Cheltenham in March."

Meanwhile, jockey Timmy Murphy, no relation, who appeals today against the severity of his 20-day "non-trier" ban incurred at Fontwell on Friday, was almost in trouble again at Bangor yesterday.

The stewards held an inquiry into his riding of Jardin de Vienne, who was third in the second division of the novices' hurdle to Rightway Star.

Had he been found guilty of not trying again, Murphy would have faced a minimum 60-day ban as this would have been his third such breach within 24 months.

However, the stewards eventually noted the explanations of Murphy and trainer Noel Chance.