Hardy Eustace wins Champion Hurdle

Hardy Eustace, trained by Dessie Hughes and ridden by Conor O'Dwyer, won the Emo Oil Champion Hurdle at Punchestown today.

Fota Island stayed on well to be third but was never a danger to the winner, who was sent off the 3-1 second favourite.

Hardy Eustace was confirming Cheltenham form with Rooster Booster, having beaten him five lengths at the Cotswolds track.

It wasn’t all plain sailing for winning jockey Conor O’Dwyer as he was pushing from around four out as long-time leader Solerina began to step up the pace.

A couple of flicks with the whip put Hardy Eustace right back on terms, though, and he pressed on three flights from home as Solerina ran out of gas.

Johnson, who had settled Rooster Booster towards the back of the field, was going ominously well turning for home.

But Hardy Eustace found a bit extra and although Rooster Booster was pegging him back slowly on the run-in, he never looked like getting there.