News round-up: Jessica Harrington is lining up a strong team for next week's Punchestown Festival.
As well as ACC Bank Champion Hurdle contender Macs Joy (who takes on Champion Hurdler Sublimity), the Co Kildare handler is hoping to saddle Cork All Star, Gemini Lucy and Hide The Evidence at the high-profile meeting, with the great Moscow Flyer also set to return in a charity Flat race.
"Cork All Star has pleased me since Cheltenham and will go in the Bumper. He's looking to maintain his unbeaten record and is in very good form," said Harrington. "He's won on firm ground so there are no ground provisos with him."
Gemini Lucy, a 17-length handicap chase winner at Fairyhouse last time out, is to step up to Grade One company for the Swordlestown Cup. "I'm very happy with Gemini Lucy after Fairyhouse so she will head to the Swordlestown Cup.
"Andrew Leigh will ride her and also most likely Hide The Evidence, who is on course to run in the vcbet.com Champion Novice Hurdle on Tuesday."
Moscow Flyer, who scored at the highest level no less than 13 times before his retirement in March 2005, is set to be partnered by Harrington's daughter, Kate, in the charity event.
"Moscow Flyer is in great form. It's been over a year since he last raced and I think he'll love it," added the trainer. "He's doing it for the Punchestown Kidney Research Fund and hopefully people will want to donate to that.
"My daughter Kate has never ridden in a race before so she's got the honour of riding him, which is brilliant. She rides him out at home and has ridden work on him a couple of times so she's really looking forward to it."
