Ground No Good For Hardy The prospect of testing conditions at Gowran Park this afternoon convinced Dessie Hughes to swerve the Red Mills Trial Hurdle with stable stalwart Hardy Eustace.The 10-year-old had been expected to clash with Macs Joy and Harchibald in a vital pointer to the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham next month.In explaining the dual champion's absence, Hughes was quick to allay any fears of injury and stated it was purely a matter of underfoot conditions.'There's nothing wrong with him at all. It's just a matter of the ground being just too soft. It is very deep at Gowran at the minute,' he said.(C) PA Sport
