Impervious (Brian Hayes) winning at Down Royal© Photo Healy Racing
Colm Murphy is hopeful of adding to his impressive record at the Cheltenham Festival when saddling Impervious in the Ryanair Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle on Thursday.
Murphy has previously hit the heights at the Festival with Brave Inca winning the Champion Hurdle in 2006 and Big Zeb landing the Champion Chase four years later.
He took a brief break from training not long after enjoying further Cheltenham success with Empire Of Dirt in 2016 to take up a position with the IHRB as a stewards’ secretary but has rejoined the training ranks in recent seasons.
Impervious won her opening three starts over hurdles including the Grade 3 Irish Stallion Farms EBF (Mares) Novice Hurdle at Down Royal and was found to be amiss after losing her unbeaten record in the Grade 1 BARONERACING.COM Royal Bond Novice Hurdle at Fairyhouse.
The County Wexford trainer reports Impervious in good form and is not concerned about the lack of a run since the end of November for the daughter of Shantou.
“She seems well and has plenty of experience going there. I think she stays well and the race should suit her,” said Murphy of the six-year-old.
“She was sore after the Royal Bond so we had to take a little pull on her. The fact she has plenty of experience it’s not going to worry us (that she hasn’t run since).
“It’s nice to have something going over there with a realistic chance. So much has to go right on the day but fingers crossed she’ll run a nice race.”
Impervious is currently a top priced 8/1 with Coral for the Grade 2 over 2m1f on Thursday.
