Macs Handed Cheltenham Target

Macs Joy is to be aimed at the Boylesports.com International Hurdle at Cheltenham after being withdrawn from the Hatton's Grace on Sunday due to the heavy ground at Fairyhouse.

Jessica Harrington's eight-year-old is likely to come up against 'Fighting Fifth' third Katchit in the December 15 showpiece.

Harrington said: 'I was looking forward to running Macs Joy over two and a half miles,

'But they had a lot of rain overnight and the ground had got really heavy, so I decided it wouldn't be fair on the horse to run him.

'He'll go to Cheltenham and we'll look forward to it.'

While Macs Joy was not asked to sit his test at Fairyhouse, stablemate Cork All Star was given the go-ahead to contest the Bar-One Racing Royal Bond Novice Hurdle.

Last season's winner of the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham was in the driving seat in the Grade One race, but made a bad mistake at the last and had to settle for second behind Muirhead.

'I think we were unlucky, it was just a novicey mistake,' Harrington said.

'Barry Geraghty actually said coming in that he should have given him a slap and asked him at the last.

'I'm happy he's shown he handles that ground. We'll wait now till Christmas.'

(C) PA Sport