Irish Trio Challenge at Cheltenham Racing on the home front this weekend is high on quality, but enthusiasts of the game will also be casting an eye cross-channel tomorrow, when three Irish-trained horses go into battle at Cheltenham.Dessie Hughes has two representatives, both of whom will be partnered by Conor O’Dwyer. Impressive Leopardstown Christmas winner, Guilt is the first into the fray, when he takes part in what looks a very hot contest for the Grade 2 Finesse Juvenile Novices’ Hurdle.Hardy Eustace, hero of the hour last March, at this track when taking the SunAlliance Hurdle, returns to the scene of his greatest triumph, competing in the Cleeve Hurdle. Following a couple of slightly disappointing efforts, the seven-year-old appears to have Crystal d’Ainay as his principal opponent here.Therealbandit has come a long way since making a winning debut in a point-to-point at Lismore in March 2002 for Wexford handler, Denis Murphy. Winner of his first two starts over fences, both at Cheltenham, Martin Pipe’s hugely promising prospect is now pitched in at the deep end in the Pillar Chase.Despite the huge step-up in class, the David Johnson-owned half-brother to The Bajan Bandit is expected to go off favourite to prove up to the task. Ted Walsh sends over his veteran performer, Rince Ri, to be partnered by son Ruby, and the now eleven-year-old showed he was no back number when runner-up to Florida Pearl last weekend. Despite the high level of form he has shown throughout his career, Rince Ri is forecast to be one of the outsiders of the field.
