Eustace Out Of Mills Trial

Dual Champion Hurdle winner Hardy Eustace will miss the Red Mills Trial Hurdle at Gowran Park on Saturday.

The nine-year-old had been due to appear in the race which has proved the ideal stepping-stone to Cheltenham glory for the past two years.

However, trainer Dessie Hughes is still not 100% happy with the horse and is now set to go straight to Prestbury Park without another outing.

The field for the Red Mills consists of hot favourite Macs Joy, the Tom Mullins-trained mare Asian Maze, Essex and Ground Ball.

Despite Hardy Eustace's withdrawal from the race, Macs Joy's trainer Jessica Harrington is taking nothing for granted.

'It looks an easier task on paper, but there is still Essex in the field and Asian Maze has won a Grade One race,' said the County Kildare handler.

'It's never as easy as it looks but the race comes at just the right time before Cheltenham.'

? PA Sport