Eustace On Easy List Hardy Eustace´s blood was found to be wrong following his poor display in the AIG Europe Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown. The dual Smurfit Champion Hurdle hero will be on the easy list for at least a week before connections decide if they can get another prep run into the nine-year-old before he bids for a hat-trick of victories in the Cheltenham feature in March. Trainer Dessie Hughes had been considering the Red Mills Trial Hurdle at Gowran Park on February 18 for Hardy Eustace, who put in a rare under-par display when last of seven behind Brave Inca yesterday. 'He looks fine and scoped clean after the race but we took a blood sample from him and it´s not 100%,' said Hughes. 'He´s picked up a little virus or whatever. He ran lifeless and never jumped a hurdle. We´ll have to get him right. 'I don´t think antibiotics will be any good for the particular infection he´s got. 'We´ll see how he is in a week or 10 days´ time before thinking about whether he can go for the Red Mills but at least he´s got time on his side for Cheltenham.' ? PA Sport
