Punchestown beckons for Macs

Jessica Harrington is looking forward to running Macs Joy at Punchestown following his fine effort in the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle.

The seven-year-old was only beaten a length by Brave Inca in the Cheltenham showpiece, having finished third behind the same rival in the Emo Oil Champion Hurdle at Punchestown last April.

That race is again the target and the County Kildare trainer told Racing UK: “I’d like to go to Punchestown with him – that’s the idea.”

Mrs Harrington reported Macs Joy to have come out of the blue riband in fine shape.

“He was his usual self in his stable – biting and kicking everybody. Hopefully he’ll go home this evening,” she said.

“It was a terrific effort. I thought for a second he was going to make it, but Brave Inca is very hard to get past.

“We beat him twice last year but we’re having a rear view of him this season.”