Murphy backs Rock to Pakens a punch

Barry Murphy is confident Pakens Rock will not be shown up when he goes against a talented field in Friday's County Hurdle at Cheltenham.

The seven-year-old has performed well this season, returning for the campaign with a pair of wins at Galway before backing it up with a January success at Thurles.

A fifth-place in Grade Two company at Naas last time dampened expectations but Murphy is remaining upbeat.

With 40/1 being widely quoted for Friday’s two-mile-one-furlong affair, he is way down the market behind the likes of Ciel De Neige, Mohaayad and Aramon but the Irish handler believes he is trending nicely ahead of his Festival debut.

‘He hasn’t run badly behind some of the best novices around and was fourth in a bumper to Envoi Allen last season,’ he is quoted as saying by the Racing Post.

‘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.

‘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.’

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