Irish Champion on Hardy's agenda Dessie Hughes still hopes to run Hardy Eustace in the Irish Champion Hurdle later this month despite his disappointing effort at Leopardstown over Christmas. The veteran 11-year-old faded tamley to finish eighth behind Sublimity in the December Festival Hurdle and the handler is ready to write off the run. "There was something amiss. We thought he was very well going into the race but when we saddled him that day he wasn't Hardy Eustace," he told At The Races. "He's always fidgety and fresh but he stood very quiet last time. He ran the same way, totally lifeless. "He seems fine now. His blood is good and we'll try and freshen him up and go back to Leopardstown on the 25th."
