Geraghty sticks with Super Mac

Barry Geraghty has opted for Macs Joy over Back In Front in the Mongey Communications Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown on Sunday.

The champion Irish jump jockey sticks with Jessica Harrington’s runner after partnering Macs Joy to victory over last season’s Cheltenham Supreme Novices’ Hurdle winner Brave Inca at Down Royal last weekend.

“Macs Joy impressed me on Saturday and while I don’t want to take anything away from Back In Front, I feel that Macs Joy will really put it up to him,” said Geraghty.

Back In Front, who won the Supreme Novices’ at the Festival in 2003, will be partnered by David Casey for the first time in the €47,000 Grade Two contest.

Edward O’Grady’s charge, who bids to win the Punchestown race for the second year running, will be having his first race over hurdles since he finished fifth to Golden Cross at Leopardstown last December.

He did, though, show his well-being when taking a two-mile maiden on the Flat at Navan a month ago when defeating Akilana by three and a half lengths, with Macs Joy a short-head away in third.

Other notable entries in the Punchestown feature include Tom Taaffe’s Emotional Moment and Michael O’Brien’s Irish Cesarewitch winner Essex.