Racing NewsJessica Harrington has confirmed that Macs Joy's next racecourse appearance will be in Cheltenham's County Hurdle after the horse failed to get back his controversial Leopardstown "victory" at the Turf Club yesterday.
The Appeals and Referrals Committee turned down the appeal against Macs Joy's disqualification from first place on Hennessy Gold Cup day, a step that Harrington greeted with resignation.
"That's their view and that's fine," she said. "We presented a good case to them and fought our corner but they decided otherwise. Now the horse will run in the County at Cheltenham."
Harrington won the festival finale with Spirit Leader last year and she is busy putting the finishing touches to her current Cheltenham team which again includes Spirit Leader in the Champion Hurdle.
The reigning two-mile champion chaser, Moscow Flyer, will have his final pre-festival blow-out in a racecourse gallop at Naas tomorrow.
The Turf Club's A and R committee also dismissed yesterday Arthur Moore's appeal over The Railway Man's failure to get a race in the stewards room on Hennessy day.
Other Cheltenham news centred on the star novice hurdler Sadlers Wings who was backed from 8 to 1 to 6 to 1 with Paddy Power for the two-mile Supreme Novices' Hurdle.
The unbeaten hurdler is also entered in the SunAlliance and trainer Willie Mullins insisted: "No decision about what race he runs in has been made and I won't be making one until as late as possible."
Punters were also busy with a more unusual bet as Cashmans reported heavy support for their bet regarding the "four reigning champions" retaining their crowns. The 20 to 1 about Rooster Booster (Champion Hurdle), Moscow Flyer (Champion Chase), Baracouda (Stayers' Hurdle) and Best Mate (Gold Cup) has disappeared and it is now just 14 to 1 about the quartet winning again.
Those that have plunged on Sadlers Wings early will be watching tomorrow's novice hurdle at Naas with a lot of interest as Zum See represents a form link with the Mullins horse.
Zum See was 13 lengths off Sadlers Wings at Navan but trainer Noel Meade did say afterwards that his horse was not quite right.
He faces a competitive field now that includes the Grand National hero Monty's Pass who continues his build-up for a return to Liverpool.
Meade also runs First Diploma while Mullins is represented by the Navan winner Ultimate Accolade.
Charlie Swan's Grade One winner Anxious Moments runs in the novice chase but will do well to give 6lb to Camden Tanner who returns to the two-mile trip he won over at Tipperary last May. Compostello is another in this but he jumped noticeably right behind Hi Cloy last weekend.
Forget The Past was an eye-catching third to Point Barrow and Mesmeric at that same Leopardstown fixture and looks sure to go close in the opener.
There will be plenty of interest in Willie Mullins's newcomer, Green Peach, in the last.
