Cheltenham hand is strengthened

Racing Leopardstown report: Any spies from England looking for a chink in Ireland's challenge for Cheltenham's Champion Hurdle…

Racing Leopardstown report: Any spies from England looking for a chink in Ireland's challenge for Cheltenham's Champion Hurdle in March were given nothing to play with yesterday after Macs Joy's fascinating success at Leopardstown.

The AIG Europe Irish Champion Hurdle produced a finish to live in the memory and while only a short head and a head covered the first three home, no one was suggesting that that left a door of any description open for the likes of Inglis Drever or the venerable Rooster Booster.

Most bookmakers have long since given up hope of a "home" winner at Cheltenham but Paddy Power went so far yesterday as to make it only 1 to 4 that an Irish trained horse will come up the famous hill in front.

Similar assumptions about an Irish horse winning the 2003 Epsom Derby were smashed to smithereens by Kris Kin but a repeat of that looks highly unlikely as the first two in the ante-post betting, Harchibald and Back In Front, didn't even bother to show up yesterday.

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Despite that there was enough encouragement for each of the first three yesterday to make their own hopes of championship success in eight weeks' time real enough.

Macs Joy had only the minimum margin to spare over Brave Inca but after trailing Solerina to the second last flight, Barry Geraghty had to dispense with Plan A.

"Solerina didn't get far enough in front and Hardy Eustace on my outside got me racing earlier than I wanted," reported the champion jockey.

"He will definitely be better coming later in a race.

Barry intended to do that but had to change plans. He was not meant to be that long in front," said Jessica Harrington who also dismissed any fears about better ground at Cheltenham finding Macs Joy out.

"He won the Swinton last year on good to firm and what I really liked there was that he was headed and then battled back. He puts his head down and tries," she said.

Guts have also been the hallmark of Brave Inca who looked to have ruined his chance with a mistake at the third flight and yet another of those flat patches when he looked to be struggling.

"That's the ground. He doesn't travel or jump well on that kind of ground," said Colm Murphy. "Considering he was the first one off the bridle he has run a cracker."

A faster surface will also be more suitable for Hardy Eustace and Accordion Etoile who unsurprisingly struggled from the second last flight.

There was no evidence of any kind of struggle from Ulaan Baatar throughout the Baileys Arkle Cup and the Harrington-trained runner eventually sluiced up by nine lengths from the favourite Foreman.

It was enough for him to be introduced as low as 8 to 1 second favourite for the Arkle at Cheltenham but despite he is no certainty to run in the two-mile race.

Timmy Murphy, deputising for Barry Geraghty who chose to ride Scarthy Lad, advised that the SunAlliance may be a better festival option on faster ground.

"We're going to have to have a big think," admitted Harrington who also won the Arkle in 2003 with Bust Out. "I couldn't believe how well he travelled and jumped."

Tony McCoy was out of luck on Foreman and earlier had been severely cautioned for his use of the whip on L'Antartique who finished runner-up to Satoha in the maiden hurdle.

But the jockey did win the Golden Cygnet Hurdle on Washington Lad who overcame a last-flight mistake to hold off Asian Maze by a length and a half.

Cashmans introduced Pat Fahy's winner at 12 to 1 for the newly-installed Grade Two novice hurdle at Cheltenham on the new fourth day at the festival.

"Three miles up that hill might make up for the fact that the ground won't be as testing," ventured the trainer.

Charlie Swan was again singing Paul Carberry's praises after Ransboro took the Clarkson Financial Chase by four lengths from the topweight Jasmin D'Oudairies.

"He is brilliant on these horses. He just gets them jumping and Ransboro's jumping hasn't been great in the past," said Swan who will keep his winner busy. "He goes on that ground and anything up to three miles will be open to him."

Tom Taaffe promised the amateur rider, Tom Freyne, who was 21 during the week, a belated birthday present in the bumper and sure enough Beautiful Vision got home in front.

Leopardstown Figures:  Yesterday's Leopardstown attendance of 9,502 was up almost 600 on the same day last year but betting figures dropped. Bookmaker turnover was down €266,285 to €1,502,516 while the Tote was down almost €30,000 to €369,105.