Connections Ponder Options For Super Mac

Connections of Macs Joy could send him to Gowran Park on February 18 or go straight to the Cheltenham Festival without another prep run.

Jessica Harrington´s seven-year-old put up a fine performance at Leopardstown on Sunday when he got to within a length of Brave Inca to finish runner-up in the Grade One AIG Europe Champion Hurdle.

The back-to-form gelding is now being considered for the Grade Two Red Mills Trial Hurdle at Gowran next month, a race won by Hardy Eustace last year.

Harrington´s assistant Eamonn Leigh said: 'The horses have been a bit low in themselves and there was no real explanation. They weren´t sick enough not to run, but then again they weren´t getting home.

'I was therefore delighted he didn´t cut out and instead ran right to the line.

'He appears to be grand and he came home safe and sound.

'We rode him out this morning and he seems very well in himself.'

Macs Joy is currently a general price of 6-1 to win the Champion Hurdle and Leigh warned his rivals he could still be open to more improvement.

'You would imagine there´d be even more to come now,' he said. 'He was probably fitter this time last year though, so the Red Mills at Gowran could be a possibility.

'Then again, we might be able to get a bit more out of him at home, which would mean he´d go straight to Cheltenham.'

? PA Sport