Eustace takes easier option

Dessie Hughes will run Hardy Eustace in the Ladbrokes World Hurlde at Cheltenham - because he feels the race will take less winning than the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle.

His stable star has already won the two-mile championship twice but will serve it this time around.

"We´re going to give him a rest from it this year and will run in the World Hurlde where he might not have to go as fast!," the trainer said.

"It was a difficult decision. He is proven over two miles and runs well in it every year but at the start of the season I said maybe we should be going further with him and not go blasting out over two miles."

Another factor in the decision was how the trials for the Champion have panned out.

"Harchibald ran a good race the last time at Dundalk, Sizing Europe won well at Leopardstown, and there looks to be four or five with good chances in the Champion.

"In the World Hurdle, apart from Inglis Drever, I would think Hardy Eustace should be as good as any of them."

As for tactics, Hughes expects his stalwart to be ridden in the usual way - aggressively.

"He will be pretty prominent, I am confident of him staying,and while Lough Derg will probably make it, we won´t let him off as far this time."

Meanwhile Hughes warns that the Champion Hurdle favourite could have a battle on his hooves.

"Sizing Europe is possibly better than any of them if he can repeat his run in the AIG but it is a different ball game in the Champion.

"You can´t make mistakes and he may be a horse prone to making one. He is a big, raw horse and he hasn´t got as much experience as some. Harchibald is a professional and doesn´t make mistakes. He is a great lepper and it means a lot."