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Eustace Ready To Return

Dessie Hughes is planning to mix and match distances as he prepares Hardy Eustace for a tilt at the Ladbrokes World Hurdle.

The 10-year-old is a dual winner of the Champion Hurdle over two miles but Hughes is planning to tackle the three-mile event at the Cheltenham Festival this time around.

However, the veteran is set to kick off with a spin on the level later in the year and is likely to take in some of the top two-mile events in Ireland.

'I think we will probably give him a run at the Curragh then go to Ascot,' said the trainer.

'It depends what comes along but the long term would be the stayers' hurdle when it comes round to Cheltenham and in between it will be whatever suits the horse, whether it's two-mile races or three-mile races,' he told At The Races.

(C) PA Sport

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