The clash of Back in Front & Mac’s Joy looks set to be the star attraction in the Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown this weekend.
The Grade 2 Mongey Communication Morgiana hurdle forms the centrepiece of a thrilling two day card which also features the Venue Hire at Punchestown Handicap Steeplechase on Saturday & the Grade 2 Western Pleasure Craddockstown Novice Steeplechase together with the Grade 3 Irish Field Novice Chase on Sunday.
Former Cheltenham winner Back in Front is jointly owned by local business man Dermot Cox & is expected to start favourite for the feature race which he won last year.
Other notable entries include recent impressive Down Royal winner Macs Joy trained locally by Jessica Harrington, Tom Taffee’s versatile Emotional Moment, and Michael O’Brien’s exciting Caesarwitctch winner Essex.
The Western Pleasure Craddocktown Novice Chase traditionally provides a stepping stone for some of the country’s potential stars with Mosow Flyer among the former winners.
This year’s race looks like a vintage renewal with particularly strong entry from the Noel Meade stable headed by Sir OJ an impressive recent winner at Galway last time out. Other notable entries include Sean Mulryan’s Galway Festival winner Swordplay from Michael O Brien’s Newlands stable & the talented Mariah Rollins.
The Irish Field Novice Steeplechase has attracted a select filed of entries including Friends Amigo fresh from his win at cork on Sunday, the Noel Meade trained Mullacash & the locally owned Forget the Past. Among the other entries for the weekend are Like A Butterfly & Commanche Court.
Filed by James McMahon
