Seddon remains on course for American adventure Cheltenham festival winner Seddon remains on course for a crack at next month's Grand National Hurdle Stakes in Far Hills, New Jersey after a narrow defeat at Galway yesterday. Gordon Elliott landed the valuable 2m5f contest in 2018 with Jury Duty who was fourth the following year when Willie Mullins' great servant Wiclow Brave unfortunately took a fatal fall when in front at the last. Shark Hanlon's Hewick won last year's renewal under Jordan Gainford. Seddon rattled up a lucrative four-timer last season under Ben Harvey and followed his Magners Plate victory in March with success in a 100k handicap hurdle at the Punchestown festival. After nearly four months off, the ten-year-old had a spin on the Flat at Killarney in late August and, having tried to make all, was headed at the last when going down by a neck to Winter Fog in a conditions hurdle at Ballybrit. Trainer John McConnell said afterwards: "Galway was the prep for Far Hills and obviously he ran very well but we're disappointed the ground was so far off what it had been described as. It is loose enough but I would have been on the verge of not running as it was pretty soft out there. "He ran in or around his (hurdles) rating and there is room there for improvement." He added: "The trip and conditions should suit at Far Hills and he should be competitive. We have been in touch with some transport companies and are sorting out travel plans as we speak. "It is a path which has been followed by Shark (Hanlon) and Willie (Mullins) in the past and we'll have plenty of advice. The horse doesn't owe the (Galaxy Horse Racing) syndicate anything and has done so much for them but this is another great experience." Additional reporting by Tom Weekes
