Macs Joy set to boost Champion Hurdle prospects
Macs Joy, a top-priced 8-1 shot for the Champion Hurdle, will be a warm order now and has to be the choice to boost his Cheltenham prospects.
Jessica Harrington’s gelding made a smashing return in the AIG Europe Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown last month, finishing three lengths and the same third behind Hardy Eustace and Brave Inca.
In a contest which is set to tell us plenty, particularly about Newmill, Harchibald and Conna Castle, it will be disappointing should Macs Joy fail to deliver.
The somewhat enigmatic Watson Lake is napped to land the other Grade 2 on the programme, the Red Mills Chase.
He will never be one for the maximum, always doing his best work on the bridle, but has plenty going for him now.
This two and a half miles is his ideal trip and some solid form, tied in with the likes of War Of Attrition and Nickname, gives Watson Lake a big chance in a race in which one can literally find fault with all the participants.
Noel Meade and Paul Carberry team up with Watson Lake and also have a good chance with Alqaab in the Shantou At Burgage Stud Maiden Hurdle.
He made a reasonable start over jumps at Fairyhouse in December when runner-up to the more than useful Convincing.
The Bumper may be best left to Liam Burke’s former successful point-to-pointer, Major Finnegan, who ran a cracking race first time on a racecourse behind Hide The Evidence over flights at Cork in October.
He wasn’t seen again until filling a mildly disappointing third in the maiden hurdle won by Rindoon at Thurles last month, but may well have needed that outing!
At Navan tomorrow, King Johns Castle can get back on the winning trail in the Kevin McManus Flyingbolt Novice Chase.
Arthur Moore’s eight-year-old ran easily his best race to date over fences when two lengths runner-up to Schindlers Hunt at Leopardstown last time.
Sweet Kiln has the best of the weights in the McCabe Builders Boyne Hurdle and Davy Russell’s mount will surely attempt to make all.
The Bowe-family mare will arrive in good shape, having slammed Studmaster to the tune of a dozen lengths at Naas in January.
There may be only seven set to face the starter in the ladbrokes.com Ten Up Novice Chase, but this is a very closely-knit affair.
Willie Mullins’ Snowy Morning, who jumps really well, is the one to beat. He battled on in fine style to score at Gowran Park and the form was boosted subsequently by second placed Ponmeoath and Don’t Be Bitin, who took fourth.
