Thunder Rock could step up in trip and avoid Cheltenham Festival

Having won his first two starts over fences, he lost his unbeaten record to The Real Whacker at Cheltenham on his penultimate run and filled the same spot on his first test in Grade One company in the Scilly Isles Novices' Chase at Sandown.

Thunder Rock, owned by the McNeill family and Ian Dale, had travelled well at the back of the seven-strong field before making stealthy headway approaching the second-last in the two-and-a-half-mile contest, only for Gerri Colombe to find plenty.

He could swerve both respective Cheltenham engagements, the Brown Advisory and Turners Novices' Chases, however.

"I was delighted with him. I thought he was going to win at the second-last, but he just kind of flattened out," said Murphy.

"I would imagine we will step him up to three miles, which I never thought I'd be saying. I'm not sure where he is going to go, but he might just be less likely, rather than more likely, to go to Cheltenham now.

"Whether we freshen him up and go straight to Aintree for the three-mile race (Mildmay Novices' Chase) or give him a race in between and go to Cheltenham, there's still a lot to be discussed with owners and internal race managers."

Murphy's string has been in fine form of late and he added: "I built myself up and genuinely thought he'd win on Saturday.

"We just fell short with him, but he is a good horse and he is going to win a lot of races. He's rated 149 and he will have another race or two as a novice. He is going to be an exciting horse to go to war with next year."

Murphy also suggested a return to a flatter track might suit.

He added: "I didn't think the ground was too bad on the chase track. I think he was as good as he was on the day and I don't think there was any excuse. He got into a nice rhythm and got a good ride from Adrian Heskin.

"At the second-last I thought he was going to take off, but the leader pulled away. He ran very well and I'm very proud of the horse, and he has been a star for the last year and a half.

"Arguably his best runs have been on flat tracks, that's the only thing I'd say.

"He was very impressive round Wetherby when he beat a horse of Ben Case's (Cobblers Dream) who won the Lanzarote Hurdle afterwards. He was very impressive at Ayr, he won round Musselburgh, and arguably he might be a better horse on a flat track. I might be completely wrong, though!"

Meanwhile, exciting prospect Chasing Fire is on course to appear next in the Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

The six-year-old took his record over timber to a perfect three with victory at Sandown on Saturday, to stay unbeaten in his career to date having also won a bumper and his point-to-point.

Sent off the 4/6 favourite for what was a step up in class in the Virgin Bet Novices' Hurdle, he handled it with ease to account for market rival Iliko D'Olivate - to whom he was giving 4lb - by six lengths.

"I was chuffed with him, he did really well. He was given a mark of 136 and I'm going to go straight to the Supreme with him, all being well," said Murphy.

"He's done everything right and I don't think we've seen the best of him yet.

"He's on track and we're looking forward to it."