Hardy Eustace’s return delayed
Dessie Hughes intended to start the seven-year-old in the Grade One Hatton’s Grace Hurdle, but he failed to scope clean yesterday morning.
“He’s got mucus in his throat,” reported Hughes. “He worked this morning and then we scoped him. He wasn’t bad, but not one hundred per cent.’’
Hardy Eustace was catapulted to superstar status at Cheltenham, producing a career-best performance to take the Champion Hurdle.
A 33-1 shot, he made practically all the running, under Conor O’Dwyer, to slam Rooster Booster by five lengths.
He showed that was far from a fluke when subsequently beating Rooster Booster again in the Emo Oil Champion Hurdle at Punchestown.
Said Hughes: “If it clears up quickly we might make Navan on December 12 (Giltspur Scientific Hurdle), otherwise it will be straight to Leopardstown at Christmas.’’
That particular assignment is the €80,000 Grade One Bewleys’ Hotels December Festival Hurdle on Wednesday, December 29.
In Hardy Eustace’s absence, Cashmans have installed Solerina as their 1-1 favourite. They bet: 1-1 Solerina, 2-1 Brave Inca, 11-2 Rule Supreme, 7-1 Sacundai, 10-1 Power Elite, 25-1 Florida Coast.
The firm originally put Solerina in at 11-8 and that was available in the shops early yesterday afternoon. But by close of play that offer had contracted dramatically.
Solerina comes here fresh from an easy victory in the Lismullen Hurdle at Navan, while Cheltenham Supreme Novices’ Hurdle hero, Brave Inca, will surely come on a bundle for his first outing of the season behind Macs Joy at Down Royal.
“He is in great order and I couldn’t be happier with him”, said trainer Colm Murphy.
“He will have come on for his run in Down Royal. We left a fair bit to work on from there and he will have improved for it.”
The ground on the hurdles track at Fairyhouse is currently described as soft, yielding to soft in places, and Murphy feels Brave Inca can handle most conditions.
“He is a versatile horse and has gone on every ground now, so it shouldn’t bother him what he runs on,” continued Murphy.
“All being well this weekend, we will probably go for the two-mile hurdle in Leopardstown at Christmas, then the Irish Champion Hurdle before heading to Cheltenham.
“I’m still open-minded about which race he will run in there but everything will be geared towards the Champion Hurdle, although we will have to see what he does in between.”
Willie Mullins’ Rule Supreme, who won the SunAlliance Novices ’Chase at Cheltenham in March, is the dark horse of the Hatton’s Grace, after defying top weight in a handicap hurdle at Clonmel last Thursday.
“He’s come out of that race great and hasn’t missed a nut’’, commented Mullins. “Anyone who has ever ridden him over hurdles says he jumps them brilliantly.’’ Ruby Walsh will be aboard on Sunday.
Cashmans make Tom Cooper’s Total Enjoyment 9-4 favourite for Fairyhouse’s Sharp Minds Betfair Royal Bond Novice Hurdle.
She turned in a tremendous performance at Chelteham in March when landing the Weatherbys’ Champion Bumper, a success celebrated quite wonderfully by connections.
She made a winning reappearance over flights with a smooth success at Down Royal earlier this month.
Said Cooper: “She is grand and has improved so much since Down Royal. I gave her a pop over six hurdles at home recently and she was electric.’’
The Tralee handler was hoping Ruby Walsh, who was in the plate in the north, would renew the partnership, but he has been claimed by Willie Mullins.
Barry Geraghty will take over and travels to Kerry tomorrow morning to have a sit on Total Enjoyment.
Noel Meade has left three in the race, Wild Passion, Rocket Ship and Augherskea. They are very much headed by the impressive Navan Grade Three winner, Wild Passion.
“It looks like he is the one at the moment’’, said Meade. “Rocket Ship could run as well, as long as the ground isn’t too bad.’’ It was yielding to soft on the hurdles track yesterday.
Willie Mullins is likely to be double-handed with Major Vernon and Mr Babbage. Major Vernon, Ruby Walsh rides, won easily first time over flights at Clonmel, while Mr Babbage gave promise of better to come when third to stable companion, Homer Wells, at Naas on Saturday.
“Major Vernon took to hurdles really well at Clonmel, is in great form and a definite runner’’, said Mullins.
“I would be hoping for ground a bit better than at Naas and will probably let Mr Babbage take his chance as well.’’
Cashmans bet: 9-4 Total Enjoyment, 4-1 N. Meade stable, 9-2 Major Vernon, 11-2 New Field (with a run), 6-1 Master Albert 7-1 Royal Paradise, 10-1 Justified, 20-1 bar.
The third Grade One on the Fairyhouse programme, the Pierse Group Drinmore Novice ‘Chase, will have a very small field.
Only seven remain in the contest and three of them are trained by Noel Meade, Mark The Man, Watson Lake and Zum See.
The exciting Mark The Man, who made a spectacular start over fences at Naas, is pencilled in to represent the Meath handler.
“Everything has gone well since Naas, he is is great form and I am very happy with him’’, said Meade.
“Watson Lake has been left in just in case something went wrong with Mark The Man. He won’t run until Leopardstown at Christmas (Grade One Durkan New Homes Novice ’Chase, December 26.)’’
4-7 Mark The Man, 5-2 Forget The Past, 7-1 Tiger Cry, 10-1 Mutineer, 12-1 Gayle Abated.
