Down Royal poser for Justified

Dusty Sheehy is keen to give Justified another chance to prove he stays three miles in the James Nicholson Wine Merchant Champion Chase at Down Royal on November 3.

The eight-year-old ran in the Grade One contest last year, finishing third behind Beef Or Salmon, but Sheehy believes he was never at his best last term.

Following a smooth success at Gowran earlier in the month, the Kilkenny-based handler is confident Justified is back to the form that saw him beat In Compliance in the Powers Gold Cup as a novice.

“We know in our own minds that he has improved significantly from last year,” said Sheehy.

“He just wasn’t right last season but this year we knew he was well in himself at home and he had been jumping well at home too, he was jumping straighter.

“We had a little worry with the ground but I walked Gowran a few times myself and I was happy enough with it. He could do no more than win.

“We are going to try him once more over three miles in the James Nicholson and if he stays the trip, it will give us another avenue as to what races we want to go for,” Sheehy told At The Races.