Harrington on the double

Macs Joy just held on in a tremendous finish to the AIG Europe Champion Hurdle to complete a big race double for trainer Jessica Harrinton, successful earlier with Ulaan Baatar in the ´Arkle´.

Macs Joy was always travelling sweetly under Barry Geraghty, and joined Solerina at the head of affairs down the back straight. The 11/8 favourite went on at the second last as Hardy Eustace, kept wide in search of better ground, was produced to challenge with Brave Inca, who made a bad mistake at the third, under pressure in fourth.

Brave Inca stayed on best of all as the trio drew clear of Solerina from the last, only failing by a short-head to peg back Macs Joy with Hardy Eustace just a head away in third.

´Barry probably found himself in front a bit too soon. The faster they go the better he likes it, and he´ll have an easy week now before we crack on for Cheltenham,´ said Mrs Harrington.

Colm Murphy was ´over the moon´ with Brave Inca´s performance saying, ´He looked like being a bad fourth turning in but he´s as tough as nails. He just doesn´t travel on that ground.´

Connections of reigning champion Hardy Eustace were also delighted with Conor O´Dwyer saying, ´I´m absolutely thrilled on that ground.´

Dessie Hughes described the run ´as good as a win´ and has not ruled out another outing next month in the Red Mills at Gowran Park.

Harchibald remains favourite for the Smurfit Champion Hurdle (4/1 with Cashmans), while other best prices for the Cheltenham feature are Macs Joy (10/1 Grahams), Brave Inca (8/1 Cashmans/Ladbrokes) and Hardy Eustace (8/1 Boylesports).

Harrington was completing a big-race double having earlier taken the Baileys-sponsored ´Arkle´ with Ulaan Baatar, whose odds for the Cheltenham equivalent were slashed from 33/1 to a top-priced 12/1 with Sean Graham.

The well-backed Scarthy Lad (7/2-5/2) blundered badly three out but a great finish looked in prospect as five of the eight runners were still in contention approaching the last.

However Timmy Murphy´s mount soon settled the issue by stretched clear on the run-in to beat Foreman by an ever increasing nine lengths, with Ned Kelly a further two lengths adrift in third.

´Timmy said he would be a better ´SunAlliance´ horse so I will have to go home and have a think about it. He did it really well on that ground, and I couldn´t believe how well he was travelling,´ said Mrs Harrington.