Leopardstown preview: It's only 15 months since a first hurdles start by Macs Joy yielded a fifth placing in a modest maiden at Wexford but the Jessica Harrington-trained horse can confirm his arrival at the top of the jumping tree with success in tomorrow's AIG Europe Irish Champion Hurdle.
A total of just six horses line up for the €135,000 feature but the small numbers don't mean there aren't a lot of puzzles still waiting to be resolved.
Hardy Eustace, the champion from Cheltenham last year, was one of the six declared yesterday morning but Dessie Hughes will examine the track tomorrow morning before making a final call on the horse running.
"We don't want him to have a gruelling race on heavy ground," said the trainer and there was little comfort to be had from the weather forecast with the elements determined to throw everything at Leopardstown.
"It is forecast to rain for much of Friday night and on Saturday night it is due to get very cold with temperatures hitting minus two or minus three," said track spokesman Tom Burke. "On Sunday itself it is due to reach five or six degrees but a lot will depend on how quickly temperatures rise in the morning."
Accordion Etoile is another who prefers a much better surface but his trainer Paul Nolan declared: "I will definitely take my chance but the horse is a stone below his best on that sort of ground."
With four of the top six in the betting for Cheltenham taking part, the AIG is a significant festival trial but the ground could bring the star stayer Solerina and last year's runner-up Georges Girl into the race with major shouts as well. They will have no problems with a soft surface although dead going would be far from ideal for Brave Inca.
In the circumstances then, Macs Joy presents a case for victory that is remarkably hassle free. He holds all but Accordion Etoile on Christmas form when he won his first Grade One in some style. There is little concern over the ground and his stable is over the slight bug that made an impact at Christmas.
Macs Joy is a different proposition to the one that was handicapping last year and a different horse completely to the one that needed four starts over hurdles to win at Downpatrick 13 months ago. None of the trainers and jockeys involved tomorrow have ever won the AIG before but Macs Joy can change that for Harrington and Geraghty.
It could be a memorable day for the champion jockey as he takes the ride on Scarthy Lad in the Baileys Arkle Cup.
Unbeaten in two starts over fences, a course of physio on his back after the first outing yielded spectacular results earlier this month when Scarthy Lad sluiced up at Thurles from some useful handicappers.
The field tomorrow includes last year's AIG winner Foreman, who will put Kauto Star's Newbury form to the test. There is also the 2002 AIG hero Ned Kelly and Sir Oj, who threw away a Grade One with a last fence fall at Christmas. However, Scarthy Lad looks like the one to follow.
Joint Agreement's second start after almost two and a half years off yielded a good third placing last time out and the handicap hurdle looks good for him.
The Naas feature today sees Lincam with a lot to do on the ratings but heavy ground and three miles will be ideal for this stayer. The former point-to-point winner Mandm also looks one to follow in the opener.
Despite half an inch of rain expected to fall overnight, no problems with racing going ahead were expected by the Naas authorities yesterday.
