Racing: Jessica Harrington has yet to decide whether to run Moscow Flyer before defending his crown in the Queen Mother Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival on March 15th.
Although the 12-year-old has been beaten on his last three racecourse appearances, Harrington would have no qualms about sending her stable star to Cheltenham without a prep run.
"We've really made no decisions yet but he seems to be getting back and is in good form," Harrington said. "We are lucky as so many good horses have got hurt recently.
"He hasn't been quite running up to form but we've still got four wheels on our wagon and if we can get him back to form with a bit of sun on his back, we'll turn up for Cheltenham.
"Whether he runs between now and Cheltenham he'll tell us - it will be up to him," the County Kildare trainer said..
Harrington also believes it could take "another one or two runs" before Macs Joy comes to the boil this term.
The seven-year-old gelding, whose last victory came in the Grade One AIG Europe Champion Hurdle last January, has been disappointing this season having finished last in the Morgiana Hurdle and fourth
behind Brave Inca in the December Festival Hurdle at Leopardstown.
Harrington said her charge is likely to defend his crown in the AIG later this month, and may also be primed for a career over fences next year.
"He is in good form and will hopefully go for the AIG but this was always going to be a very difficult year for him," she said.
"He has had no run on the Flat like last year and then ran straight in the Morgiana Hurdle and in the Festival Hurdle.
"He ran better there but he's only run twice this year and it might take him another one or two runs before he hits top form.
"He's bigger and stronger this year and could take a bit more time to get ready. He'll also probably go and jump a fence next year."
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