Racing: The blinkers Hardy Eustace wears make it hard to eyeball him anyway, but a magnificent success in the AIG Europe Irish Champion Hurdle here yesterday proved the folly of even attempting to tough him out.
The 2004 and 2005 champion hurdler bounced back to his remarkable best with a resounding, three-length defeat of no less a rival than title-holder Brave Inca. The win sparked genuine anticipation of a possible third victory in the Champion Hurdle.
At 10 years of age, it's some transformation for a horse who was beaten by the top English horse, Detroit City, on his last start and who, for many, had been too easily filed in the "yesterday's hero" drawer.
But such presumption was punished with a vengeance as the 9 to 1 winner received another inspired Conor O'Dwyer ride from the front to overpower a star-studded field.
Brave Inca's own toughness is justly celebrated, but even a mano a mano scrap all the way up the straight couldn't see him get his head in front.
Back in third was Macs Joy, while the new Triumph Hurdle favourite Lounaos belied her inexperience with a fine effort in fourth.
Hardy Eustace's odds for the Champion have been slashed to 9 to 2, with his Cheltenham conqueror from last month, Detroit City, hardening slightly in the betting to a general 3 to 1 favourite.
But O'Dwyer and trainer Dessie Hughes gave every sign of itching for another crack at the English star.
"We will be 5lb better off with him at the festival and better ground will suit us too," said Hughes. "Ground is the key to him. He jumped as well today as he did when he won his second Champion Hurdle. He must have gained half a length at every jump."
O'Dwyer is convinced Hardy Eustace is as good as ever, and put last season's lack-lustre form down to the horse never being fully right. "Last year was just a blip," the veteran jockey explained. "They took him on today and did everything they could to try and beat him and they couldn't do it. Brave Inca and Detroit City will all be at Cheltenham too, but we certainly won't be afraid of them."
Tony McCoy reported that better ground will suit Brave Inca, and a re-match between the first three looks like it will be worth the price of festival tickets alone.
"It was a helluva race, but the ground was neither one thing nor the other today. We've got six weeks to freshen him up," said Brave Inca's trainer Colm Murphy.
The Macs Joy camp were overjoyed with their horse's first run in nine months, and he is now down to 6 to 1 for the festival. "He is in the Red Mills at Gowran, but we might opt to keep him fresh and train him for the one day," said trainer Jessica Harrington.
That Red Mills Trial is a definite next stop for Hardy Eustace. However, after yesterday's scorching performance, there mightn't be too many willing to take him on.
