Gowran and Navan previews: The absence of Hardy Eustace from today's Red Mills Trial at Gowran leaves the way clear for an easy pre-festival warm-up for the Champion Hurdle second favourite Macs Joy.
Jessica Harrington's star has just three scheduled opponents including Asian Maze who is also entered for Navan tomorrow, but typically the trainer was taking nothing for granted yesterday.
"It looks an easier task on paper now, but Essex is still in the field and Asian Maze is a Grade One winner.
"It's never as easy as it looks but the race comes at the right time before Cheltenham," said Harrington.
Macs Joy may not enjoy the same kind of public profile as the likes of Hardy Eustace and Brave Inca, but he showed when runner-up in the AIG that he continues to be a hurdler from the very top drawer.
A 22-race career has already yielded seven victories which include two Grade Ones and Harrington believes he will go to Cheltenham a fresher horse than last season.
Certainly Macs Joy should reflect the general return to form of the entire Harrington string today and reward those midweek shrewdies who snapped up the 6 to 4 ante-post for this race.
The same Macs Joy colours will also be carried by Valley Of Giants in the four-year-old maiden.
This one was running on well when runner-up to Astalanda at Down Royal 10 days ago and looks ready to step up while it could be a rare day for the Harrington team with Brutto Facie having a good chance in the Beginners Chase.
The fencing highlight will be the Grade Two chase which sees Paul Carberry team up with Jim over what should be an ideal two and a half miles.
Jim was running on noticeably well when runner-up to Central House over two miles at Fairyhouse and the ratings suggest he should have an edge over Forget The Past.
Bally Scanlon recovered from a below-par effort at Leopardstown with a convincing success at Thurles last time out. George Kent's horse is 7lb higher for that but should still figure in the handicap hurdle.
The latest Willie Mullins bumper newcomer is Scotsirish, a point-to-point winner at Loughbrickland last April. The Meade runner Offaly looks the one to beat.
