Champion Next For Macs Jessica Harrington remains positive about Macs Joy's Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle prospects despite his odds-on reverse on Saturday.Sent off at 4-9 to land the Red Mills Trial Hurdle at Gowran Park, the classy eight-year-old could finish only second to Newmill in the Grade Two test.Harrington believes her charge could have run a little below form after turning out relatively quickly following his promising reappearance in the AIG Champion Hurdle last month.She said: 'His second run back could have been a factor and he's still alive and everything else is great so it's straight to the Champion now.'The one that beat him at Gowran was a very good horse. We gave him weight and that ground was horrible too.'Macs Joy was generally eased for the Champion Hurdle after his eclipse, and is now available at a best-priced 14-1 with totesport for the March 13 showpiece.(C) PA Sport
