O'Dwyer recalls Red Mills Hurdle preps for Eustace The Red Mills Hurdle at Gowran Park has long been an key trial for the Champion Hurdle and Conor O'Dwyer says that it played a pivotal part in the preparation of Hardy Eustace. Dessie Hughes' dual Champion Hurdle winner won the race before his second Cheltenham victory in 2005 while he was also edged out by a short-head in the race before his 2004 blue riband victory. The Lar Byrnes-owned gelding was one of the stars in a golden age of hurdlers towards the start of this century and had a terrific career spanning eight years. Hardy Eustace won seven Grade Ones, all over hurdles, and looking back O'Dwyer said:- “He was really never going to go chasing as he wasn't the biggest and the way he jumped hurdles wouldn't have really suited fences. “He was going to stay the Champion Hurdle route for as long as he could, which he did, and to go back the second year and do what he did was absolutely amazing. “The Red Mills hurdle set him up for it. Even the first year when we were beaten a short-head Dessie knew that was his prep. “He definitely wasn't disappointed that he was beaten a short-head, he was very happy. It was a fantastic prep race for the Champion Hurdle.”
