Hardy Eustace Chasing Historic Third Smurfit Champion Hurdle Success

Hardy Eustace, winner of the Smurfit Champion Hurdle for the past two years, heads the 35 entries for this year's renewal, run on the opening day of The Festival 2006, Tuesday, March 14. The Dessie Hughes-trained nine-year-old will be attempting to become the sixth horse to land hurdling's greatest prize three times, following on from Hatton's Grace, Sir Ken, Persian War, See You Then and Istabraq. Hardy Eustace recently confirmed his well-being with a comfortable success on his seasonal reappearance at Punchestown on New Year's Eve. »Click here for Entries

Both Harchibald and Brave Inca, second and third respectively behind Hardy Eustace in 2005, giving the Irish a 1-2-3, are entered again and are among 13 entries hailing from Ireland this year. Other prominent contenders from the other side of the Irish Sea are the two mares Feathard Lady, winner of the Christmas Hurdle at Sandown and recently described as recovering well from a setback, Asian Maze, a Grade One winner at Aintree last season who was expected to bid for the longer Ladbrokes World Hurdle, Al Eile, another Grade One scorer at Aintree last season, and Essex.

France is represented by five entries at this stage, the pick of which are undoubtedly Arnaud Chaille-Chaille pair of Ambobo, successful at Cheltenham a year ago in the Grade Two Royal Gloucestershire Hussars Novices' Hurdle and Sunspot, third in Grade One company at Auteuil in November. Christian Von Der Recke supplies the one German contender, Fiepes Shuffle.

Heading the home-trained challenge is Howard Johnson's Arcalis, victorious last season in the Anglo Irish Bank Supreme Novices' Hurdle at The Festival and an impressive winner on his seasonal reappearance in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle in November. Other leading British contenders include the Jonjo O'Neill-trained Lingo, impressive when taking the Greatwood Hurdle at Cheltenham's Open Meeting in November, as well as Penzance and Faasel, who were separated by just a head in last season's JCB Triumph Hurdle at The Festival.

Edward Gillespie, Cheltenham?s Managing Director, commented: 'The hand of history is on Hardy Eustace as he bids to add another chapter to Smurfit Champion Hurdle history and become the sixth triple winner of hurdling's greatest prize.

'He is sure to face strong competition, with both established rivals and several exciting younger contenders among this year's 35 entries.'