Four-horse trainer ready to take on the big names in County Hurdle

Four-horse trainer Barry Murphy is dreaming that his battle-hardened novice Pakens Rock can cause an upset in Friday's Randox Health County Hurdle at Cheltenham and cap an already successful campaign.

The capable seven-year-old has rattled off a hat-trick of wins this campaign and Murphy received confirmation on Saturday that his stable star had secured a place near the foot of the handicap field.

"It's brilliant to be heading to Cheltenham as a small yard from the west of Ireland," said Murphy.

"We've got four horses in training so getting the chance to have a runner at the festival is fantastic and what everyone in racing dreams about."

He added: "Pat Kelly will also be flying the flag for Galway at the festival too and we're obviously looking forward to it."

Barry Murphy: hoping Pakens Rock can pack a punch in next week's Randox Health County HurdleCredit: Patrick McCann

Pakens Rock, fourth to leading Supreme and Albert Bartlett contenders Abacadabras and Latest Exhibition in a Grade 3 at Navan earlier this season, will sport the outsider's tag next week and is priced between 33-1 and 66-1 for County Hurdle success.

However, Murphy expects an improved display from Pakens Rock's latest fifth in Grade 2 company at Naas.

"He hasn't run badly behind some of the best novices around and was fourth in a bumper to Envoi Allen last season," he explained.

"We've done some fine tuning with him since his last run behind Jason The Militant and Beacon Edge and think he's improved since.

Pakens Rock ran out a good winner at Thurles two starts agoCredit: Patrick McCann

"He seems fresh and well, so hopefully he runs his race. He's a very tough horse and has proved himself to be capable of winning his fair share of races."

Murphy added of the local support behind his small stable's festival runner: "One or two people at home have remarked that they'll be backing on him at 66-1 so I hope they're right!"

One County Hurdle candidate unlikely to take up his Friday engagement is Soviet Pimpernel, with the Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle still the priority for Peter Fahey's youngster.

"Soviet Pimpernel is more than likely going to line up in the Supreme," Fahey said of the five-year-old, who is a general 14-1 for the County and 33-1 for Tuesday's curtain-raiser.

"He's also in the County but he's still a novice and has been competing in small-field races generally, so it could be a tough ask taking on much more experienced horses in the handicap.

"We're very happy with him and we'd be delighted to see him run well."

Soviet Pimpernel (right) is likely to take his chance in the Sky Bet Supreme Novices' HurdleCredit: Alain Barr

On popular 16-time winner Peregrine Run, Fahey added: "I'd imagine it's less than 50-50 about him taking his chance in the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase. The ground is just looking too soft for him at the moment.

"We had been hoping to run him as we've been schooling him and it'd be ideal to get him qualified to run in the Grand National, but it's possible he could run over fences at Down Royal next weekend instead if it was a small field."

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