Smart novice Paris Pike is being wound up for an ambitious tilt at the Jameson Irish Grand National in the spring.
Racing for only the third time over fences he displayed an accomplished jumping technique to see off six rivals in the Isle of Skye Novices' Chase at Kelso yesterday.
Paris Pike is owned by Ivan Straker who did much work to help in the revival of the Grand National.
Straker is also a former chairman of Seagram which is the parent company of Jameson - hence his desire to also win the Fairyhouse race.
"It's been the plan all along that the Major's horse would go for the Irish Grand National," said trainer Ferdy Murphy.
"This horse ran well at Huntingdon last week but he met Zafarabad on a good day.
"I deliberately didn't put him in the Royal & SunAlliance Chase as it's going to take him another year to be fully mature.
"The aim now will be to give him enough experience to go to Ireland in April."
