Champion Hurdle-winning trainer Murphy back in business at Cork

Colm Murphy, who enjoyed his biggest success as a trainer with Brave Inca in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham in 2006, is back in business at Cork when he runs Glendruid in the bumper (8.55).

The five-year-old, a newcomer by Beneficial, will be Murphy's first runner since he announced his decision to return to the training ranks after relinquishing his licence in September 2016 to become a racing official with the Turf Club (now the IHRB).

Murphy's other big race winners include Big Zeb, who won the Queen Mother Champion Chase in 2010 and Empire Of Dirt, a Cheltenham Festival winner in 2016.

Glendruid, the mount of Johnny Barry, will be Murphy's first runner since Black Zambezi finished fourth in a maiden hurdle at Gowran Park in October 2016. His last winner was Killiney Court in a beginners' chase at Ballinrobe in August of that year.

Peregrine Run: has enjoyed an excellent campaignCredit: Patrick McCann

Earlier on the Cork card, Peregrine Run, who has been a star of this year's summer jumping season, enjoying an excellent campaign, reverts to hurdles in the 2m4f conditions hurdle (7.50).

The Peter Fahey-trained nine-year-old will be bidding to extend his winning sequence to five following a run of victories over fences in recent months.

The most recent of those wins came at Wexford a week ago and, speaking on Thursday, Fahey said: “Peregrine Run has been kept busy but he’s been taking his races very well and seems to be in great form.

“He’s quite well in at the weights and he’ll love the good ground, so we’re hopeful he’ll keep his winning run going.

“We’re leaving the blinkers off this time. They help sharpen him over fences but we think he doesn’t need them over hurdles.”

Peregrine Run, who is a four-time winner over hurdles, will be running over hurdles for the first time since March.

Kevin Sexton's mount is one of a few versatile performers in the nine runner line-up.

Woodland Opera: two-time Grade 2 winner lines up at CorkCredit: Patrick McCann

The Jessica Harrington-trained Woodland Opera, who will have Keith Donoghue on board for the first time, has four hurdle wins to his credit and is also a dual Grade 2 winner over fences while Rashaan is the winner of 13 races with his eight victories over hurdles including this event two years ago.

Gordon Elliott is represented by the vastly experienced Tombstone who is a three-time winner over hurdles and also over fences. "He's in good form and if he runs to his best he could go close," Elliott said of Davy Russell's mount.

The Charles Byrnes-trained Doctor Duffy, who is two from two over hurdles, and the Margaret Flynn-trained Dr Mikey are the other course winners in the line-up.

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