McCarthy eyes Wetherby hurdle

Ireland could be represented at Wetherby’s Charlie Hall meeting on Saturday with Eye Candy looking set to tackle the Constant Security Wensleydale Juvenile Novices’ Hurdle.

Trainer Sandra McCarthy is hoping to run the three-year-old’s in the Listed contest, but is keeping a watchful eye on the weather.

“Eye Candy will run if the ground isn’t too heavy,” she said today.

“We think the English soft would be better than the Irish soft and I’m hoping to have Ruby Walsh riding him.”

Eye Candy landed a Flat handicap for McCarthy at Naas in July and finished third on his hurdling bow at Tipperary last month.

“He has been fine fine since Tipperary and he’s come on,” said the handler, who is daughter of legendary Irish handler Paddy Mullins and sister of trainers Willie and Tony.

“We gave him a bit of a rest after that run and now he’s come back, he seems to be in good form.

“Tipperary was quite soft but I’m definitely not going to run him on anything that would be anywhere near heavy – it’s too long a season to be ruining him on heavy ground.”

Tim Betteridge, Wetherby’s chief executive, had welcome news for McCarthy and reports the current going to be good to soft.

“It has been dry at Wetherby since Monday. The weather forecast predicts wind and some showers through Thursday, but with the prospects of the weather brightening up towards the weekend,” said Betteridge.

Eye Candy will have plenty of supporters on the day, though, as Wetherby has an arrangement with Navan, and a coachload of Irish racegoers will be present to cheer the colt home in the two-mile event.