Perfect Champion hurdle Trial

You could not ask for a better build up to the Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival with the dramatic finish with three of the leading fancies for the big race in March battling out an exciting finish in the Irish counterpart – the AIG Irish Champion Hurdle run at Leopardstown – and this race may not even have had the potential Irish winner in the field.The spoils went to Jessica Harrington's Macs Joy, who came out best by a short-head and a head in a three-way photo with Brave Inca and Hardy Eustace.The sight of Edward Gillespie, Cheltenham's chief executive, dispensing ferry vouchers to Irish trainers at this time of a year is as sure a sign of spring and the impending Festival as snowdrops and budding daffodils. But regarding the Champion Hurdle, he suggested, he might just as well give the Irish the money now.The three who fought out yesterday's thrilling finish are, according to bookmakers, just the second rank of Irish hurdlers behind Harchibald, 3-1 favourite, and Back In Front (5-1), both of whom had stayed at home. But it would be a brave man who reckons none of yesterday's first three, and possibly the fifth, Accordion Etoile, won't be seriously involved at Cheltenham.Macs Joy hit the front too soon under Barry Geraghty but fought back bravely to get up on the line. Brave Inca, last year's Supreme Novices' Hurdle winner, showed his best form of the season, recovering from a near-catastrophic mistake at the third and being the first off the bridle to win everywhere except on the line. "Put a hill and nice ground in front of him and he's as tough as nails," said his trainer Colm Murphy afterwards.It was also Hardy Eustace's best effort by some margin this season, round the outside most of the way and without blinkers. Ladbrokes take the view that, sharpened up by blinkers in March, he would reverse the form with Macs Joy. Accordingly they shortened him to 7-1 from 8-1 and lengthened Macs Joy to 8-1 from 7-1. I am not sure it is as cut and dried as that. Trainer Dessie Hughes decribed Hardy Eustace's third as "As good as a win."Macs Joy is owned by a syndicate of five, headed by the owner of an electrical shop in Monaghan, and with wives, children, friends and relations, the winner's enclosure was somewhat crowded and the trainer reasoned the shop might not open today."He was in front too long," Mrs Harrington said. "He jumped so well he found himself there and he's better coming late. They're three good horses. Our fellow goes on the good just as well."

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