Cheltenham decision for Jezki

The target for Jezki for next month's Cheltenham Festival will be decided after he runs at Gowran Park on Saturday week.

The 2014 Champion Hurdle winner is prominent in the betting for the 2017 edition of the event as well as Sun Bets' Stayers' Hurdle and after winning on his first run since April 2015 at Navan in January, trainer Jessica Harrington has entered him in the Grade 2 Red Mills Trial Hurdle at Gowran to determine his event for Cheltenham.

Harrington feels the race is perfect for the JP McManus-owned charge as he continues his recovery after the win in Navan.

"It [Navan last month] was an ideal race for him rather than chucking him in at the deep end in the Irish Champion Hurdle," she said.

"It was a nice race for him and he did it without much fuss and he's now going to the Red Mills at Gowran Park on Saturday week and then we'll decide on the Champion Hurdle or Stayers' Hurdle. We'll keep our options open."

Jezki's stablemate Sizing John also has options for Cheltenham, and the outcome of his run in Sunday's Stan James Irish Gold Cup will decide whether he lines up in the Ryanair Chase or the big one, the Gold Cup.

"He's been good since his last run and I'm very happy with him," Harrington told At The Races. "Robert rode him this morning and was delighted with him and hopefully he'll be able to ride him on Sunday because he knows him.

"Unfortunately he happens to be the same generation as Douvan and has finished second to him five times and third twice.

"So it seemed the logical move to step him up to two and a half and he did that well at Thurles. There's no harm trying him over three miles as he's a very relaxed horse.

"Let's just see what happens with the races at Cheltenham, but you imagine the logical aim would be the Ryanair. We'll leave our options open though."

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