Harrington 'very pleased' with Jezki prep

Jessica Harrington remains in bullish mood ahead of Jezki's tilt at the Stan James Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival on Tuesday.

The six-year-old was third in last year's Supreme and has finished behind dual winner Hurricane Fly on his last two starts at Leopardstown.

His trainer said: "It does look a very, very good race with the reigning champion and a lot of young pretenders. I've been very pleased with his preparation since his last run. All year we've only been aiming at one date in March. I think I probably did leave a bit to work on, and Barry (Geraghty) is four out of four on him."

With Tony McCoy, retained jockey for owner JP McManus, siding with My Tent Or Yours, Geraghty gets on Jezki for the first time since an emphatic victory at last year's Punchestown Festival.

He said: "He'd definitely have a chance. I suppose he'd have to improve on his last run but he was a very good novice. He beat Champagne Fever by 16 lengths in a Grade One and if he reproduces that form he'd have a say. If he relaxes on the day that will be a big help. He's a very good horse, he has an engine and if things go right he'll have a big say.

"If Hurricane Fly reproduces what he did in Leopardstown the last day I think we'll all struggle, but he was only workmanlike at Cheltenham last year and he was beaten the year before so maybe he isn't just quite as good at Cheltenham."

It is six years since the 13-year-old Captain Cee Bee won the Supreme Novices' Hurdle and he is a three-figure price. Trainer Eddie Harty said: "His preparation has been very good and if he can repeat his Leopardstown run, he will have a squeak.

"He has won the Supreme Novices' Hurdle, was third in the Champion Chase and had an off-day there (2010 Arkle), but it's great to going back to Cheltenham with a horse in such good form as he is."

My Tent Or Yours, runner-up behind Champagne Fever when a hot favourite for last year's Supreme, has won the Fighting Fifth, the Christmas Hurdle and a jumpers' bumper so far this term.

Nicky Henderson, who has saddled five previous winners of the Champion Hurdle, said: "He had a good start to the year winning his two Grade Ones and a rather innocuous Flat race at Kempton, where I was more chuffed with him in that than the Christmas Hurdle, and so was AP (McCoy).

"The Christmas Hurdle was good, it showed there's not very much between him and The New One and they are the best of the Brits. Hurricane Fly is still the one to beat. Each year we come in here and everyone is trying to find reasons to beat him.

"There are some pretenders this year, a lot of them. I still have a lot of respect for Jezki and I have huge respect for Our Conor - I still think he could be the one, he's the horse I'm very frightened of."

The New One has saved his very best efforts for Cheltenham, winning four of his six starts there, and was arguably most impressive when showing scintillating acceleration to win the Neptune. He has won twice from three starts this season and was last seen running My Tent Or Yours close in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton, despite fluffing his lines at the final obstacle.

Trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies said: "Preparations have gone smoothly and it must be a plus that he has done so well at the course. I think it's the hottest (Champion Hurdle) there has been for a very long time, I don't know anything about the Irish horses, we haven't run against them at all but they're obviously a very strong team and we'll have to be at our best.

"I don't think his jumping's a problem, it was just such a shame he met that one hurdle wrong (at Kempton). I'm not worried about the pace, a slow pace will hurt the others as much as him."