Hardy Eustace on easy list
The dual Smurfit Champion Hurdle hero will be on the easy list for at least a week before connections decide if they can get another prep run into the nine-year-old before he bids for a hat-trick of victories in the Cheltenham feature in March.
Trainer Dessie Hughes had been considering the Red Mills Trial Hurdle at Gowran Park on February 18 for Hardy Eustace, who put in a rare under-par display when last of seven behind Brave Inca on Sunday.
"He looks fine and scoped clean after the race but we took a blood sample from him and it's not 100%," said Hughes.
"He's picked up a little virus or whatever. He ran lifeless and never jumped a hurdle. We'll have to get him right.
"I don't think antibiotics will be any good for the particular infection he's got.
"We'll see how he is in a week or 10 days' time before thinking about whether he can go for the Red Mills but at least he's got time on his side for Cheltenham."
Derby-winning jockey Johnny Murtagh is set to have his first ride at the Cheltenham Festival after it was confirmed Golden Cross is to be trained for the Ladbrokes World Hurdle in March.
After pleasing connections with his effort when third behind Brave Inca, Mick Halford's charge will try three miles for the first time at Navan next month on the way to a tilt at the Festival stayers' crown.
Golden Cross, who has top-class form over two miles, will step up in trip in the Boyne Hurdle at Navan on February 19 before aiming for the World Hurdle, for which he is 7-1 fourth-favourite with the sponsors.
Halford said: "He will go to Navan for the Boyne. I'd love to know that he gets three miles.
"He is so laid back we think he has every chance of getting the trip, he switches off."
Confirming Murtagh would maintain the partnership, Halford continued: "I was glad to get someone who could commit to the horse.
"He does often hit a flat spot in a race if you didn't know him you could just panic a bit on him but this man doesn't panic."
Murtagh, who will fly back from Dubai for the Boyne, said: "I was very happy with the way he ran on Sunday.
"He definitely wants an extra half-mile. If he gets three miles he could be the real deal.
"It would be nice to sit round the fire with my grand children and tell them I rode a winner at Cheltenham.
"And I think we have a chance with this horse."
Meanwhile, Eamonn Sheehy was last night waiting for the final results on a blood test in the hope of discovering the reason behind Justified's disappointing run at Leopardstown on Sunday.
The seven-year-old scoped clean after finishing third to Missed That in the Baileys Arkle Perpetual Cup and had a blood test this morning, the early results being all-clear.
"I've had some of the results back and they're clear so far," said Sheehy. "The haematology and whatever are all okay. I'm waiting on the final result to come through."
The trainer had expected a better performance from Justified, who had been unbeaten in all his three previous completed outings over fences.
"He scoped well after the race and we took blood from him this morning," he went on.
"I can't find anything wrong with him but obviously it wasn't his true running with Arteea (runner-up) on his form before.
"I hope I find something wrong because it would be kind of disappointing if I didn't.
"What we do with him next depends on what the results are. We may have to go to Navan now for the Flyingbolt Novice Chase (on February 19) and see if it was just a blip or what.
"If it doesn't go right at Navan then we'd probably have to skip the Arkle at Cheltenham.
"If he gets back on track at Navan then it would be the Arkle."
Justified was pushed out from around 7-1 to twice those odds in places with the leading bookmakers for the Irish Independent Arkle Trophy at the Festival on March 14.
