Hardy Eustace will bid to join the racing greats at Cheltenham tomorrow when he goes for glory in the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle.

GRAHAM LEE, who rode his 100th winner of the season at Ayr yesterday, issued an upbeat bulletin on his Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle hopeful Arcalis.

Thirty-nine horses remain in the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup after the latest forfeit stage.

HARCHIBALD, runner-up in the Smurfit Champion Hurdle last spring, has been ruled out of a repeat bid on the day that 35 entries were announced for this year’s renewal on March 14.

NOEL MEADE believes it will be a “miracle” if Harchibald runs again this season after undergoing an operation to remove a piece of wood or birch lodged in his leg.

ARCALIS could bypass tomorrow’s Pertemps ‘Fighting Fifth’ Hurdle due to unsuitable ground at Newcastle.

John Quinn cannot wait to renew rivalries with Notable Guest when he saddles Crow Wood in Saturday’s John Smith’s Cup at York.

Trainer Howard Johnson and owner Graham Wylie set the jumps world alight last season and they switched codes to great effect when Masta Plasta landed the Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot at York today.

MOSCOW FLYER, unless he’s gone completely over the top or falls, faces a simple task in the Kerrygold Champion Chase at the opening stage of the Punchestown Festival this afternoon.

Quazar provided further evidence that Jonjo O’Neill’s horses have finally escaped the doldrums when he formed the highlight of a 62-1 treble for Tony McCoy at Cheltenham today.

Pat Keane

THE almost legendary Baracouda failed in his bid to become the first horse to win three Ladbrokes’ World Hurdles (formerly the Stayers’) when going down by three lengths to the four years younger Inglis Drever at Cheltenham yesterday.