Man In Mighty Form Ahead Of Punchestown

Trainer Henry Daly today confirmed that Mighty Man - rated the best hurdler to have run this season by the Racing Post - is set to line up in the EUR200,000 Dunboyne Castle Hotel & Spa Champion Stayers Hurdle at Punchestown on Thursday, April 26.

The seven-year-old won the John Smith's Liverpool Hurdle at Aintree last week by an effortless 13 lengths and Daly is looking forward to Punchestown.

'I'm very happy with him after Aintree and he'll go to Punchestown. He doesn't want soft ground but that looks unlikely anyway,' said Daly.

'The official handicapper has put him up 7lb to 172, which doesn't really make any difference as he won't run in a handicap, but you've got to be delighted to have a horse that good.

'It will be interesting to see what happens if Hardy Eustace and Al Eile run. They're all good horses and that's what racing's about - running good horses against each other.'

Sublimity Going For Champion

The Grade 1 ACCBank Champion Hurdle on Friday, April 27, promises to be one of the races of the 2007 Irish National Hunt Festival and trainer John Carr today confirmed that he hopes to run Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle winner Sublimity in the EUR200,000 contest.

'I couldn't be happier with him after Cheltenham. He's the champion and I believe he can come out on top again. I might bring him back a bit earlier next season and it will be a light campaign again,' said Carr.

'Hopefully he can give me my fourth winner at the Punchestown Festival. I had one in 1990 and then Roadmaker won the three-mile handicap hurdle last year and Stutter won the two-mile handicap hurdle the year before.'

Punchestown's course continues to be watered and Carr added that the seven-year-old would not want the ground to be too fast.

'He's an intended runner providing the ground is right for him. We've kept him cantering and doing a bit of work. He'll work again tomorrow and then do an easy bit on Friday and a bit the following Tuesday,' added the trainer.

'I believe they're doing a very good job watering but we'll need a drop of rain as well for him to take his chance as it would have to be on the soft side of good.'

Trainer Jessica Harrington confirmed that Macs Joy - who finished second on the Flat at the Curragh on Sunday - is set to line up in the ACCBank Champion Hurdle.

'Mac's Joy is very much on course for the ACCBank Champion Hurdle. I was delighted with his run at the Curragh - absolutely thrilled with him. He showed that he's come back fine after missing Cheltenham and he's very good in himself today,' said Harrington.

'He loves good ground and it would be absolutely brilliant if he could repeat last year's win. Barry (Geraghty) will ride him as always.'