Jezki set to return in Irish Champion Hurdle

The long-absent Jezki will not make his reappearance at Punchestown today and will instead be targeted at the Irish Champion Hurdle on January 29.

Winner of the Champion Hurdle at the 2014 Cheltenham Festival and eight-time Grade One winner overall, Jessica Harrington’s stable star has not been seen in competitive action since beating old foe Hurricane Fly on his first start over three miles at Punchestown in April of last year.

The eight-year-old was being readied for an appearance over the festive period, but did not take up an engagement in Leopardstown’s Christmas Hurdle and will not run at Punchestown on New Year’s Eve.