Sticktotheplan out for more glory after Persian War triumph

Sticktotheplan is targeting more graded-level success after making a winning start for Olly Murphy at Chepstow.

The five-year-old moved from Cormac Farrell, for whom he won the Listed Colm Quinn BMW Novice Hurdle in July, to Warren Chase and immediately got off the mark for his new handler on the opening day of the Welsh Racing Festival.

Stepping up to Grade Two company, he cruised from last to first to claim the £45,560 prize pot in the Persian War Novices’ Hurdle, finishing four lengths clear of the Gordon Elliott-trained Kainsbourg.

Murphy is yet to decide Sticktotheplan’s next assignment, with the Greatwood Hurdle at Cheltenham and the Newton Novices’ Hurdle at Haydock both under consideration.

“It didn’t surprise me off his home work, he looks like a horse with plenty of ability and hopefully he will pay our rent through the novices,” the trainer said of the gelding’s Persian War performance.

“He came out of his race well, I’m not sure where he’s going to go but he’ll probably either go for the Greatwood Hurdle or go to Haydock for Betfair Chase day in a graded novice hurdle.

“We will see after that, but he’s rated mid-140s now so he’ll be running in those better novice hurdles.”

Strong Leader will follow a familiar route to recent years, with the Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham and Liverpool Hurdle at Aintree among his long-term targets.

The eight-year-old will head to Wetherby for his first start of the season on November 1 for the West Yorkshire Hurdle.

“He goes to Wetherby for the West Yorkshire Hurdle, he’s in good form and heads there,” Murphy added.

“He’ll run in all the graded three-mile hurdles.”

Resplendent Grey was last seen landing the bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown in April and the seven-year-old will return to action in the Listed Colin Parker Memorial Intermediate Chase on November 2, with lofty ambitions on the horizon afterwards.

“He goes to Carlisle for the Colin Parker a week on Sunday and then goes for the Hennessy (Coral Gold Cup) if all goes well,” Murphy said of the gelding.

“He had a good season and hopefully he is a horse that could run well in the Hennessy. He wants to go nice and steady.”