RACING FAIRYHOUSE SUNDAY PREVIEW:THE VETERAN Hardy Eustace returns to where it all began for him at Fairyhouse tomorrow and can show any young upstarts how to get the job done with another Grade One victory in the Bar One Racing Hatton's Grace Hurdle, writes Brian O'Connor

Just eight horses line up for the Hatton's Grace which has to compete for top billing with two other Grade One races but which has no competition in terms of sentimental pulling power.

As well as Hardy Eustace, the two and a half mile race also has the reappearance of his old rival Brave Inca after a year and a half on the sidelines and both names hark back to a golden period of Irish dominance at the top of the hurdling tree.

Hardy Eustace, winner of the Champion Hurdle in 2004 and 2005, was succeeded by Brave Inca whose own CV includes a Hatton's Grace victory in 2006.

It will be fascinating to see how he gets on tomorrow because Hardy Eustace has already proved this season it can be deadly dangerous to ignore the old cliché that form is temporary but class is permanent.

After a rare flop at the Cheltenham festival last March, the Dessie Hughes-trained star looked to be on the fade.

However, his return in a Grade One at Punchestown was startling as he overhauled Sizing Europe to confound the odds with a piece of form to rival anything in his pomp.

This will be Hardy Eustace's 41st career start and although it is six years since he ran at Fairyhouse he boasts a two from two record at the track, including his first ever victory in the 2002 Land Rover Bumper.

It was at this meeting later that year that he also broke his Grade One duck in the Royal Bond under the late Kieran Kelly.

His rivals tomorrow also include Aitmatov and Sweet Kiln who fought out an epic finish last year as well as Catch Me who has looked like a world-beater on occasions and chasing a first Grade One victory.

Hardy Eustace, however, looks to have secured a new lease of life and that Punchestown form looks easily the best on offer.

Aran Concerto's absence from the Drinmore Novice Chase will encourage even more hopes in Tranquil Sea's ability to make it two from two over fences.

The Punchestown festival winner was hugely impressive at Cork when beating the decent Baltiman and will attempt to follow up the 2007 victory in this race of his stable companion Sky's The Limit.

It won't be easy though as Forpadydeplasterer and Trafford Lad also boast Grade One form over hurdles, while Tony Martin's Northern Alliance is two for two over fences already.

Willie Mullins has decided to give his bumper champion Cousin Vinny a first start over hurdles at the highest level in the Royal Bond where he will be joined by the French Triumph Hurdle runner up Hurricane Fly.

It looks significant though that Paul Carberry has chosen Fisher Bridge over Donnas Palm in this race as Fisher Bridge may be best ridden for speed, based on the evidence of his last start at Navan.

There was nothing half-hearted about Tharawaat's wide-margin victory at Navan last Sunday and in that form he will play a big part in the opening Grade Three hurdle.