Macs Joy Installed as Favourite for the AIG Europe Champion Hurdle

Coral has installed December Festival Hurdle winner Macs Joy as the 7-4 favourite for Sunday's AIG Europe Champion Hurdle, ahead of current Smurfit Champion Hurdle favourite Harchibald at 11-4."With the exception of Back In Front, all of Ireland's leading hurdlers look set to line up on Sunday, and although the forecast soft ground may not be ideal for all the runners, the result looks sure to have a huge bearing on the Champion Hurdle market," said Coral spokesman David Stevens.Looking further ahead, the Dermot Weld-trained Akshar has been the subject of significant support for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle and is cut to 16-1 (from 25-1).