The Jam Man all set to take on Paisley Park after overcoming late scare

Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle underdog The Jam Man has overcome a late scare to remain on track for a crack at reigning champion Paisley Park, trainer Ronan McNally said on Monday.

The popular seven-year-old has enjoyed an incredible rise to the Grade 1 ranks, having previously recorded victories off marks as low as 80, 87 and 94, as well as a hat-trick of well-supported handicap wins in Britain last summer.

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McNally, who also runs a kitchen-fitting business, is assisted by his nine-year-old son Kian – more commonly known as 'Tubbs' – in riding out his stable star.

"Things hadn't been looking good with him last week when he didn't work well," explained McNally of his 150-rated hurdler, priced between 25-1 and 66-1 for Stayers' Hurdle success.

"It was a surprise because he's a horse who has always worked well in the past, but thankfully he seems to be in good form again now."

The Jam Man: priced between 25-1 and 66-1 for the Paddy Power Stayers' HurdleCredit: Caroline Norris

He added of the Dublin Racing Festival runner-up's turnaround in recent form: "It was a tough week and we had three different people come in to take a look at him and it seems to have done the trick.

"Sean Flanagan rode him and said he felt as good if not better than when he was second at Leopardstown last time so for the moment it's all systems go for the Stayers' Hurdle, which is obviously very exciting.

"It'll obviously be very difficult taking on Paisley Park but if we finished in the first four it would be amazing. It hasn't been an ideal preparation but there's only one Cheltenham and we have no pressure on us."

McNally enjoyed the biggest win of his career when The Jam Man landed an €80,000 handicap hurdle at Navan in December, having earlier last year saddled 16-year-old See Double You to become the oldest winner in Ireland for 32 years.

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