Cheltenham Festival target still yet to be decided for Jessica Harrington’s Jezki
JESSICA HARRINGTON hopes to learn more about where Jezki will head at next month's Cheltenham Festival by running in Saturday's Red Mills Trial Hurdle at Gowran Park.
Winner of the Champion Hurdle in 2014 but no match for Faugheen the following season, the JP McManus-owned nine-year-old may bid to regain his crown at Prestbury Park.
But he also has the option of the Sun Bets Stayers' Hurdle having seen off old foe Hurricane Fly over three miles a couple of years ago.
Harrington said: "He worked after racing at Naas last weekend and we were very happy with him. All seems to be well and he's had plenty of time (since comeback run) and I think that's the main thing, time.
"I hope he is (as good as ever) and Saturday will tell us a lot more."
With fellow McManus-owned gelding Sutton Place instead lining up in Sunday's Boyne Hurdle at Navan and the Willie Mullins-trained mare Limini a notable absentee, Jezki would appear to face a relatively straightforward task.
Gordon Elliott's Tombstone was just under three lengths behind Jezki at Navan a month ago and renews rivalries.
Colin Kidd's stable star Rashaan claimed the scalp of Apple's Jade in November's WKD Hurdle at Down Royal and after being given a break, made a successful comeback on the all-weather at Dundalk last week.
However, he has to give Jezki 8lb, despite being rated 28lb inferior.
Kidd said: "He's fit and well and came out of Dundalk in good form.
"We all know he won't be in love with the ground, but it's our local track and we said we'd take a chance.
"Despite the ground, I think he'll give a good account of himself and there's good prize-money for the places.
"To give 8lb to a former Champion Hurdle winner will be nearly impossible, but we'll give it a go."
Rory O'Moore and Rock On Rosie, both of whom have a mountain to climb on the book, complete the line-up.
Another small but select field of four go to post for the Red Mills Chase.
Ballycasey, a former winner of the PWC Champion Chase over this course and distance, is sent into battle by Mullins.
Gigginstown House Stud are represented by Elliott's recent Clonmel scorer Clarcam and the Mouse Morris-trained Mozoltov and Jimmy Mangan's Montys Meadow rounds off the quartet.
The opening www.gowranpark.ie Beginners Chase is an interesting event.
High-class novice hurdler Bachasson fell on his chasing debut at Thurles before finding Edwulf too strong at Punchestown, but will likely be popular to make it third time lucky.
He will not have it all his own way, however, with Cheltenham Festival winner Mall Dini and Jezki's half-brother Jett also featuring in a strong field.
Meanwhile on Sunday...
Sutton Place bids to continue his winning spree in the Ladbrokes Ireland Boyne Hurdle at Navan on Sunday.
The JP McManus-owned six-year-old returns to Grade Two level for his latest assignment and steps up to two miles and five furlongs for the first time in the hands of Barry Geraghty.
Sutton Place is one of four runners for Gordon Elliott in a nine-strong field. The title-chasing trainer also saddles De Plotting Shed, Dedigout and Taglietelle.
Elliott's big rival Willie Mullins is doubly represented, with Ruby Walsh siding with Renneti over Thomas Hobson, the mount of Paul Townend.
Jessica Harrington's pair of Supasundae and Ttebbob and the Mouse Morris-trained Milsean complete the line-up.
Grade Two honours are also up for grabs in the Ten Up Novice Chase, with the McManus silks carried by both Anibale Fly and Edwulf.
Tony Martin's Anibale Fly bounced back from a listless performance at Kempton on Boxing Day when winning at Naas three weeks ago and is the chosen mount of Geraghty.
Edwulf, trained by Joseph O'Brien, steps up in distance after last month's victory at Punchestown, with leading amateur Derek O'Connor an intriguing jockey booking.
Mullins runs Haymount (Walsh) and Bellow Mome (Townend), while course scorer Acapella Bourgeois is not without a chance for Sandra Hughes and Roger Loughran.
Identity Thief is the star name on show in the Flyingbolt Novice Chase.
The Grade One-winning hurdler looked destined for the top of the chasing ranks after winning his first two starts over fences.
However, he was pulled up lame during a much anticipated clash with Min over Christmas and only made it as far as the first fence in last month's Irish Arkle.
The seven-year-old bids to reignite his season in this Grade Three affair, with the same colours of Gigginstown House Stud also carried by Elliott's Ball D'Arc.
Enda Bolger's Ballyoisin and Tully East from Alan Fleming's yard make up the field.
