A steady flow of winners have emanated from Ferdy Murphy’s north Yorkshire base recently, with a treble at Hexham in the week underlining the yard’s rude health. In particular, his chasers have continued how they finished last term with nine winners from 43 runners, yielding an impressive 21% strike rate. The highlight of those successes has undoubtedly been L’Antartique’s win in the Paddy Power Gold Cup, which again underlined the trainer's prowess with chasers and his ability to get one ready for a big race (for last season, think Hot Weld and Joes Edge).

At Aintree on Sunday, Murphy has a serious chance of hitting the bullseye again with Leading Man in the Becher Chase, run over the unique National fences. Like the majority of his string, Murphy is likely to have mapped out his career from an early stage, with this race an early season target. Punters should take the hint!

Last season would have been very much a learning curve for the seven-year-old, with victory in the Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase at Wetherby on Boxing Day perhaps his best performance. The fact that he failed to progress as expected after means he has slipped back to the same handicap mark, and there were positives to take from his reappearance spin at Carlisle, where he finished sixth of 16 on ground too fast. That would have put him spot on for this race, and I think he’s the one to be on at 8/1 (Boylesports, Paddy Power) - backed in from half those odds at the start of the week!

It’s a competitive race, of course, and the biggest danger looks to be Bewley’s Berry (7/1 Totesport), who fell in the Grand National (going extremely well at the time) but finished second in this race last year to the well-treated Eurotrek. However, he does have to give 10lb to Leading Man (who is set to carry just 10st 1lb) and doesn't have the benefit of a previous run. Paul Nicholls has won two of the past three renewals and Mr Pointment (8/1 bet365) looks the best of his three entries but, again, he doesn't look as well-handicapped as the selection.

Looking even further ahead, should Leading Man take to the Grand National fences (like I think he will), he has to come into the reckoning for the National itself. Therefore, I suggest punters help themselves to some of Coral’s 50/1 now in anticipation of a big run on Sunday, as his shrewd trainer will no doubt have the big race in April as his long term target.

Recommended Bets:

Leading Man (Becher Chase) 2pt each way @ 8/1 Boylesports or Paddy Power

Leading Man (Grand National) 1pt each way @ 50/1 Coral