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Olly Murphy eyes Aintree repeat with 'flat-track bully' Strong Leader

Olly Murphy is hoping a return to a flatter track can see stable star Strong Leader recapture the form that saw him register a comfortable success in the Grade 2 Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury in November.
Owned by the Welfordgolf Syndicate, Strong Leader's form has dipped in two subsequent runs this season, but a breathing problem was rectified after the Grade 1 winner finished last in the Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot in December, and Murphy feels the track at Cheltenham was again to blame when he finished out of the frame in last month's Cleeve Hurdle.
"I was really disappointed with three-quarters of the race at Cheltenham, but I was pleased with how he saw his race out," said Murphy. "His wind was good, which was a positive, but his form figures suggest he's a long way off his best at Cheltenham.
"His form there just hasn't been as good as it is elsewhere. I think he's a flat-track bully, that's the long and the short of it."

Strong Leader enjoyed his crowning moment in last season's Grade 1 Liverpool Hurdle at Aintree, and a return to the same race at the Grand National meeting in April looks the logical next step for the eight-year-old.
"Quite rightly, some of his owners are very keen on the Cheltenham Festival, but I'd say we're very likely to go to Aintree," said Murphy. "He'll be 6-1 or less at Aintree, whereas he'll be a 20-1 shot for the Stayers' Hurdle at Cheltenham.
"He just doesn't go up and down the hills. It's literally like riding a horse first time out. He's a very tricky ride at Cheltenham, doesn't jump with any fluency, and he gets himself in an impossible position."
Skipping last season's Stayers' Hurdle after being beaten in the Cleeve paid off for Strong Leader 12 months ago and Murphy is keen on taking the same route.
"How he even finishes where he does around Cheltenham, I don't know," the trainer added. "Where he was at the top of the hill in the Cleeve this year and last, most horses would have been pulling up, but he ends up running on and is not beaten that far.
"The one thing Sean Bowen did say was that he was pleased with his wind, and he's come out of the Cleeve well. We'll freshen him up and fingers crossed we'll go to Aintree."
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