There may be plenty of anticipation about the upcoming Christmas action but this holiday period will seem a lot happier for the Dessie Hughes team if Hardy Eustace can win today's Grade One BGC Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot.
As well as the former double-Champion Hurdler attempting to win over a three-mile plus trip for the first time, Hughes also throws Tony McCoy's mount Justpourit into the opening chase while the Curragh trainer's son, Richard, returns to jump action with a ride on Lyceum in the novice hurdle.
Along with the pair of Viso (Willie Mullins) and Victram (Ado McGuinness) in the £150,000 (€209,000) Ladbroke Hurdle, it constitutes a strong Irish presence although there's no doubt about Hardy Eustace's star status this afternoon.
The 10-year-old star is unbeaten in two starts at the famous track and despite attempting this marathon trip, Hardy Eustace appears to retain enough of his old zest that Hughes hasn't ruled out another attempt at the Champion Hurdle even if the horse advertises claims for a tilt at the World Hurdle. "The Champion wouldn't be out of the question - I'll go for the easiest option," he said ahead of a mouth-watering clash with Black Jack Ketchum and nine other opponents that include Tom Hogan's Sonnyanjoe. "Hardy Eustace is in good form and will take all the beating."
Victram ran third to Acambo in last year's Ladbroke and will be a contender again today although Nicky Henderson's likely favourite Jack The Giant has got into the race and is expected to be hard to beat.
There will also be Irish interest in Japan tomorrow where Michael Kinane has picked up a ride in the prestigious Arima Kinen which bills itself as the world's biggest betting race.
Kinane will be on board the New Zealand bred Roc de Combes who takes on 15 opponents in the mile and a half plus race which will be run at the Nakayama track.
Kinane makes the trek to the Far East for a race that Deep Impact won last year and Roc de Combes, a fast finishing third in the last leg of the Japanese Triple Crown, is expected to figure prominently.
