'He's an all-time great' - Five legendary winners of the Royal Bond The racing at Fairyhouse this weekend is definitely worth looking forward to and we have two days of excellent action to look forward to. Sunday’s card is the highlight, as there are two Grade 1s on the schedule as well as the Grade 2 Royal Bond Novice Hurdle. Established in 1994, the Royal Bond held Grade 1 status until 2023, but it remains a key race on the calendar for Ireland’s top two-mile novice hurdlers. The race is named after the Arthur Moore-trained Royal Bond, who was a very successful hurdler in the 1980s. Some unbelievable names have won it over the years so we’ve gone through the history book and picked out five of the best. Istabraq (1996) Istabraq needs no introduction, as he could well be the greatest two-mile hurdler of all-time. Aidan O’Brien’s gelding won the race back in 1996 and would go on to do great things. He used his Royal Bond success as a stepping stone for Cheltenham, where he would go one to win the Royal & SunAlliance Novices’ Hurdle later that season. Going off at odds of 11/8, his supporters wouldn’t have had many concerns, as he was prominent throughout and kicked on after the third-last to win without being extended. Obviously the best was yet to come and he went on to win four Irish Champion Hurdles, three Champion Hurdles and a host of other Grade 1 races. Moscow Flyer (1999) Better known for his exploits over fences, Moscow Flyer was one of the best two-mile chasers to ever grace the sport. The Jessica Harrington-trained gelding won the Champion Chase twice and famously won the 2004 Tingle Creek, also known as ‘the race of the century’. Dermot Weld’s Stage Affair went off favourite in the 1999 Royal Bond but he had no answer to Moscow Flyer, who kicked on to score by three lengths. Like-A-Butterfly (2001) Like-A-Butterfly only made her debut in bumpers at the age of seven, but she did go on to win the Champion INH Flat Race at Punchestown and was unbeaten in that sphere. She confirmed that promise as a novice hurdler and was an easy winner of this race in 2001. Christy Roche’s mare would go on to win the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham later that season and also came out on top in the AIG Europe Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown the following year. A successful novice chase campaign followed and she won at Aintree on her final start. Hardy Eustace (2002) Dessie Hughes’ Hardy Eustace really embodied his name and sheer determination won him two Champion Hurdles. He raced during a strong era for two-mile hurdlers and regularly clashed with Brave Inca, Macs Joy and Harchibald. Hardy Eustace was a maiden going into the 2002 Royal Bond but that made no difference, as he went on to beat Back In Front by a length-and-a-half. Cheltenham Festival success was on the agenda later that season and he won the Royal & SunAlliance Novices’ Hurdle. Hurricane Fly (2008) Willie Mullins holds the record with 10 victories in this race and the best of the bunch is dual Champion Hurdle hero Hurricane Fly. He was a narrow winner of this race in 2008 and whilst he missed Cheltenham, he did go on to win impressively at Punchestown. Hurricane Fly went on to win the Irish Champion Hurdle five times, the Morgiana Hurdle three times and the December Festival Hurdle four times as well. This legend was underappreciated during his career but is beginning to get the respect he deserves.
