‘Fabulous’ Conor exciting Hughes ahead of Champion

Dessie Hughes wishes the Stan James Champion Hurdle was next week, such is the condition of his representative Our Conor.

Hughes, who won the race as a jockey on Monksfield in 1979 and already twice as a trainer with dual winner Hardy Eustace (2004-05), is banking on a return to Prestbury Park as the springboard to enable his five-year-old to turn the tables on the current champion, Hurricane Fly.

Our Conor has twice come up short against Willie Mullins’ record breaking hurdler this season, but he got much closer in the Irish Champion Hurdle last time out and Hughes feels Cheltenham in tailor-made for his stable star.