Galway Option For Macs

Smart hurdler Macs Joy could return to action at Galway later this month after bypassing an intended outing on the Flat at Navan.

Trainer Jessica Harrington had been eyeing a two-mile maiden at the track yesterday for the eight-year-old, who has not run since finishing second in a Punchestown Grade One in April.

However, Harrington sidestepped that event after deciding the ground was unsuitable and she is hoping for a little rain before the end of the month.

'The ground was a bit too firm,' she explained.

'Although he likes that ground, for the first run of the year we would like a little more dig.

'There's a possibility of a race for him at Galway over a mile and six furlongs at the end of the month.'

Macs Joy has won nine of his 29 outings, including three Grade One contests, but he was limited to just four starts last season after some muscle problems.

That light programme has prompted Harrington to keep her stable star over the smaller obstacles rather than moving up to a chasing career.

'We'll see where we go from there (Galway) but we'll probably head for the Morgiana (Hurdle),' she told At The Races.

'He's going to stay hurdling for this year ? he's not an over-big horse and had some problems last year.'

Macs Joy is as low as 16-1 with Coral for next year's Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, a race in which he finished second in 2006.

(C) PA Sport