Hughes happy with Hardy performance Dessie Hughes was pleased with the performance of dual Champion Hurdle hero Hardy Eustace after showing up well for a long way at Fairyhouse on Wednesday. The 12-year-old raced with plenty of zest at the head of affairs in the Bar One Racing Hatton's Grace Hurdle before tiring in the straight to finish sixth. Hughes feels the veteran will strip fitter for the outing, but is in no rush to decide when or where he will return to racecourse action. "He ran well for a long way and just got a bit tired as he was the only horse in the race without a run," said the County Kildare handler. "He quickened well from the mile to the turn for home and he just had a heave then before coming back a bit going to the second last. "In that ground he'd be entitled to come on a good bit for it. We're very happy with how he ran and he seems to have come out of it well. "We'll have a look at running him at Christmas but we might even keep him for the spring - we don't have to be making any decisions just yet. "He enjoys his work and enjoys his racing and if we can find a race we think he might be capable of winning, we'll let him take his chance again. "He loved it on Wednesday and jumped as well as ever and looked great. We'll see how he is and just play along. "There are no great expectations but he might be able to nick one somewhere."
