Lucy in line for Festival first

LADY rider Lucy Alexander, one of the finds of the jumps season, will be handed a chance to shoot for glory at next month’s Cheltenham Festival with trainer Ferdy Murphy confirming she rides Charing worth in the Byrne Group Plate.

Conditional jockey Alexander (right) has already broken Lorna Vincent’s record for most winners in a season by a female jumps rider – 22 in the 1979-80 season – and success on Lord Villez at Newcastle on Saturday was her 25th this term.

Those wins included the Castleford Chase at Wetherby on Charing worth.

Murphy said: ‘Charing worth is an ideal one to try to break her Cheltenham duck.’

Murphy has made increasing use of Alexander’s talents this season and is juggling his riding plans with stable jockey Graham Lee injured.

The Middleham trainer’s 10 Festival winners include 2010 National Hunt Chase hero Poker De Sivola, who was ridden by Ruby Walsh’s sister Katie, while he was assistant to Geoff Hubbard when his Gee-a won the 1987 Mildmay Of Flete Chase under Gee Bradburne (née Armytage).

Murphy added: ‘I have no fears of putting up a good lady rider and it is a shame Lucy is not more experienced otherwise I would have no hesitation in putting her up on all of ours. She is strong with a good racing brain.’

Alexander should have at least two other Festival rides — Bruce Mactaggart’s Red Tanber in the Jewson Novices’ Chase and either Wyse Hill Teabags or Actic Court for Jim Goldie in the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys Hurdle. Murphy, whose Cheltenham team also includes Divers (Byrne Group Plate), a winner at last year’s meeting, and De Boitron (Grand Annual Chase), says Kalahari King will make the Ryanair Chase despite being sidelined since November with a leg problem.

The 11-year- old has run at the meeting four times, being placed on each occasion including second to Albertas Run in last season’s Ryanair Chase.

Murphy added: ‘He will make Cheltenham. Hopefully, he will have a spin after racing at Doncaster on Saturday. We have had to rush it a bit but he is up to speed.’

Murphy hopes Irish jockey Davy Russell will be available to ride.