Macs Back at Punchestown Jessica Harrington today announced that her star hurdler Macs Joy will make his seasonal return in the Maplewood Developments Hurdle at the Punchestown Winter Festival on Sunday 18th of November. Macs Joy has been one of the brightest lights of the current golden generation of Irish hurdlers and there is sure to be great excitement around his return to Punchestown the scene of his greatest triumph in the 2006 ACCBank Champion Hurdle. Speaking today Jessica Harrington said ' Its great to have him back he's a wonderful horse, we were very disappointed he didn't make it to Cheltenham last year and the plan this year will be to get two or three races into him before going for the champion hurdle again. 'Macs Joy is set to face stiff opposition in what looks like being a vintage renewal of the ? 100,000 Grade One Maplewood Hurdle. Noel Meade has no less than four entries including previous winners Harchibald and Iktitaf. Commenting on the race Noel Meade said 'The Maplewood Developments Hurdle has been a happy hunting ground for me over the last few years and I have entered four this time, their work in the early days of next week will decide who exactly turns up on the day' Other top class entries include Edward O' Grady's two top novices from last season Clopf and Catch Me both of whom have been well supported in antepost markets for the 2008 Champion Hurdle. Speaking today Edward O' Grady said 'While I have two entered at the moment Clopf looks like a likely runner ' Another interesting entry is the ever popular Adamant Approach who is owned by race sponsor Michael Whelan and would prove to be a fairytale winner. Commenting on the ground at Punchestown Dick O Sullivan said ' Ground conditions are currently good and while the forecast is reasonably settled into next week we expect conditions to be ideal for next weekend ' The Punchestown winter festival gets underway on Saturday 17th of November with the feature Grade Three Profile Systems Novice Chase and continues on Sunday 18th November with the Grade Two Volkswagen Novice Chase and the feature Grade One Maplewood Developments Hurdle.
