The Stratford trainer reports the six-year-old to have taken to the bigger obstacles well at home and cannot wait to get him back to the track.
Thomas Darby enjoyed a successful novice hurdle campaign, ending with an excellent second to Klassical Dream in the Sky Bet Supreme at the Cheltenham Festival.
"He's in good form. It looks a good starting place. His schooling has been good and I'm looking forward to getting going with him," said Murphy. "It looks a nice starting point and it is only a starting point. We're looking forward to getting him going. It's a nice, big galloping track and local to us. Whatever he does tomorrow, he'll improve on.
"He's obviously the best hurdler in the race, so hopefully he'll have a clear round and we'll move on to bigger and better things."
One of Thomas Darby's four rivals is his stablemate, Mon Port, who had a bad experience on his first try over fences at Sedgefield in May.
"He needs to restore his confidence," said Murphy. "He had a fright at Sedgefield on his first run over fences, so if he has a good round of jumping I'll be delighted."
The main danger to Thomas Darby is likely to be the Dan Skelton-trained Maire Banrigh, who got off the mark over fences at the first attempt at Stratford a month ago.
Gary Moore's Esprit De Somoza and Belargus, from Nick Gifford's stable, make up the quintet.
