Hughes Expresses Eustace Doubts

Hardy Eustace is not a certain starter in the Red Mills Trial Hurdle at Gowran on Saturday.

Connections of the dual Smurfit Champion Hurdle winner had hoped their gelding would get back on track at the weekend after he finished last in the AIG Europe Champion Hurdle last month.

However, the nine-year-old's participation in the two-mile event is in doubt after trainer Dessie Hughes expressed his concern about Hardy Eustace's current well-being.

'I honestly feel he's about 90% at the moment, he definitely isn't 100%,' said the County Kildare handler.

'We'd be very anxious to run him on Saturday because we'd like to stick to the same path as last year; he would probably need a race too.

'But at the same time, I'd just like to see him a bit better.

'I'm going to speak to (owner) Laurence Byrne in the morning and see if we declare him or not.

'We'd have our reservations. I've been quite happy with him to a point but horses have to be 100%.'

If Hardy Eustace does line up in the Grade Two feature at Gowran, he will not be wearing the blinkers that helped him to victory at the last two Cheltenham Festivals.

'We'll wait for the Champion Hurdle (before blinkers are applied again),' Hughes told At The Races.

'This race (the Red Mills) doesn't mean an awful lot to us ? it's just a stepping-stone.'

? PA Sport