Moskova faces Troytown test

Paul Nolan admits he will not know whether the Ladbrokes.com Troytown Handicap Chase at Navan has come too soon for Moskova until halfway through the race.

The seven-year-old mare has been a grand servant over the years, mixing between hurdles and fences and winning nine of her 40 races.

She can throw in the odd below-par run, but Nolan is more worried about the race coming too soon after her fine run when third in the Lismullen Hurdle two weeks ago.

“She ran a cracker at Navan and she’s in good shape but it’s possible the handicapper has a grip on her at present,” said Nolan.

“I suppose at the end of the day a lot of the horses in it are exposed, nothing sticks out this year like it has been laid out for it.

“It depends on what sort of a day Moskova is having. It has never really worked out for her before running her back so quick, that is the one thing we are worried about, are we going to the well a little bit too quick?

“We won’t know until the race, she seems in good fettle but hopefully it’s not too quick.

“Switching between hurdles and fences has never bothered her, she just has her quirks but at the same time she is a decent filly and she very rarely runs a bad race.”

Jessica Harrington’s diminutive Got Attitude showed he was all heart when battling to victory at Galway.

The three-mile race will turn into a stamina test in soft ground but Harrington says he is handling it better as he gets older, despite being by a good ground sire in Beneficial.

“He did it really well last time, he showed a tremendous attitude. He’s tough and stays well,” said Harrington.

“He’s won on heavy before, I just think he’s getting a bit older and wiser now.

“Obviously being by Beneficial, as a rule, they like better ground, but he does go through it and he has to go for it anyway, it’s a logical step.

“He’ll go for the Paddy Power at Christmas after this.”