Hardy hardier than Harchibald
How Hardy Eustace managed to pull the contest out of the fire and how Harchibald contrived to lose yesterday's opening day feature will forever remain one of the unsolved puzzles of this great Festival.
The most plausible explanation is that Hardy Eustace simply wanted it more. Harchibald was laughing at him all the way up the straight, as Paul Carberry sat utterly motionless.
It was a majestic contest with wily as a fox Conor O'Dwyer on Hardy Eustace, balls of steel Carberry and Harchibald and Barry Cash on Brave Inca treating the captive audience to a thriller.
O'Dwyer, the same as last year, immediately set off in front. Later he reported: “I was surprised we got such an easy lead.”'
If one was to offer a criticism of O'Dwyer it was that, perhaps, he didn't go fast enough. Indeed, he was content to glance across at his rivals heading to the third last.
“At that stage I had loads of horse left and just thought to myself that possibly I should have gone quicker.
“But I was trying not to set it up for anyone else. He showed out there today he is a true champion.”
In the end, of course, O'Dwyer got it spot-on. He kicked hard off the home turn and powered to the final flight.
Brave Inca was soon out after him, but then Carberry came between horses on Harchibald, simply pulling a train.
He sat and sat and refused to take O'Dwyer or Cash out of their collective misery. O'Dwyer kept asking his partner for more and more and got a generous response.
One hundred yards out and there was only going to be one winner - Harchibald. Fifty yards later and the picture changed dramatically.
“I was aware of Harchibald when he came up beside me”, said O'Dwyer. “My horse put his head down and battled and battled.
“But I had one little problem, would Harchibald come off the bridle?” He did and O'Dwyer needed no second bidding.
He drove Hardy Eustace for all he was worth and Dessie Hughes's gallant eight-year-old made it two Champion Hurdles in-a-row by a neck and the same from Harchibald and Brave Inca with Accordion Etoile and Macs Joy next, giving Ireland the first five home.
O'Dwyer was showered with congratulations and his Cheltenham CV now reads two Champion Hurdles and a Gold Cup (Imperial Call), impressive by any standards.
“I'm nearly 38 (April 8) and it is tremendous to win again at my age”, cracked O'Dwyer. “He's a proper horse, is stronger this season and carrying me better. We winged the first, he jumped brilliantly and never touched a hurdle the whole way round.”
Hughes was, arguably, the coolest man at Cheltenham. He stood on the edge of the winner's enclosure, soaking up the atmosphere and celebrations.
“I'm quite happy out here and I'd imagine so would the horse”, he quipped. “He has everything you would want, guts and a will to win. That's what you want in a racehorse.
“I never thought it could happen again. Hardy Eustace is something else and I have been saying all winter he is a better horse than last season.
“Conor rode a great race, but didn't go that fast and they had every chance to come and beat him.
“I must confess I thought we were cooked when Harchibald cruised alongside, but my lad does not know when he is beaten and dug deep.
“He will definitely head for Punchestown now. There will be no fences for him, he will be back next year to try and emulate Istabraq and make it three in-a-row.”
Hardy Eustace, of course, is now heading very much down Istabraq's road. Aidan O'Brien's superb timber-topper won the SunAlliance Novices' Hurdle, prior to three Champion Hurdle victories, and Hardy Eustace began his Cheltenham run with success in the SunAlliance.
Noel Meade was quick to defend Carberry's riding of Harchibald. Carberry was the recipient of some booing as he came back in.
Said Meade: Harchibald has to be held up, when he gets to the front he eases down. I didn't realise the crowd were booing, I thought he gave him a brilliant ride.
“If my horse had got to the front anywhere but the last fifty yards, the other horse would have passed him again and got back up. I have no problem at all with the ride and didn't know Paul got any criticism.
“I watched the race with Dessie (Hughes) and thought our fellow had it won. But Hardy Eustace was the wrong horse to come up against. I would say there is a good chance of turning the form around at Punchestown.
“I think the race was a bit special and I wouldn't be surprised to see them up against each other again next year, it reminded me a bit of Monksfield and Sea Pigeon.”
Colm Murphy, delighted with Brave Inca, said: “We'll see how he is before thinking about Aintree and Punchestown.
“We are spoilt for choice with this horse. I'm absolutely delighted and we will let him tell us when to run.
“He could go chasing next season, I would say that is probably more than likely.”
