Hardy seeking Champion hat-trick

Dual Champion Hurdle winner Hardy Eustace proved himself no back-number and again staked his Champion Hurdle claim with an effortless success in the Grade Two Coral Ascot Hurdle at the Berkshire track.

Although the trends are against him returning to the Festival in March and landing a hat-trick following his third-placed effort this year, he was unanimously trimmed in the betting for the Smurfit Kappa-sponsored event.

Dessie Hughes’ nine-year-old is now 11-1 with William Hill, while Cashmans and VC Bet are 12s, Ladbrokes 14s and Coral and Stan James a standout 16-1.

Conor O’Dwyer rode the veteran like a true champion and after leading on the bridle three flights out, the 11-8 favourite started to draw clear around the final turn and cruised down the straight without having to go through the gears.

His rivals were strung out in behind and Mighty Man fared best of the rest in finishing 11 lengths back in second.

Hughes said: “Two and a half miles is his ideal distance and it was nice to find this race and to be getting the weight from the others.

“He wasn’t right last year but he is back to his best now.

“He got mucus in his lungs in February and I was never happy with him, but I never lost confidence in him and this will have done his confidence the world of good.

“He is a Champion Hurdle horse and that is where he will head to.

“I was thinking about taking him to the Boylesports race in Cheltenham next month, but I didn’t like the ground there at the last meeting so he is unlikely to go there and I might take him to Fairyhouse for the Hatton’s Grace.”

O’Dwyer added: “He ran a brilliant race and we came over to avoid the big guns at Punchestown tomorrow.

“He was better than I thought and he jumped well.”

Henry Daly added that Ladbrokes World Hurdle third Mighty Man will return to the track next month for the Long Walk Hurdle.

Demi Beau was back on song after being mugged over the course and distance last month when asserting in the £120,000 Carey Group Handicap Chase.

Evan Williams’ eight-year-old took the race by the scruff of the neck at the third fence and the Paul Moloney-ridden 7-1 shot knew his way home thereafter, beating the fast-finishing Hasty Prince by two lengths.

Assistant trainer Richard Williams said: “We were concerned about the ground but he has gone on soft and for the money we had to give it a go.

“Evan has always thought so much of him and he loves this two-mile-one-furlong trip.”

Richard Johnson suffered a nasty-looking fall from Green Tango at the third obstacle and was taken to hospital for a precautionary X-ray on his left arm, although medics believe he had just suffered soft tissue damage.

The jockey later missed a winning ride in the Timeform Handicap Hurdle as Potts Of Magic (6-1), who was partnered by Timmy Murphy, denied 4-5 favourite Asudo by two and a half lengths.

Cerium benefited from a summer breathing operation to run out a stylish winner of the £70,000 Amlin 1965 Chase under Sam Thomas.

PaulNicholls’ charge galloped clear after jumping to the front at the second-last to win by three and a half lengths from last weekend’s Paddy Power Gold Cup casualty Knowhere, who was returned the 4-1 joint-favourite.

Nicholls’ assistant Dan Skelton said of the victorious 12-1 shot: “That was ideal and the breathing operation has obviously helped.

“He has done it nicely and has jumped well, but we will have to see what the handicapper does with him before making plans.

“He does stay well and two and a half miles is ideal for him, although he will get three miles in time.”

Neysauteur (2-1 joint favourite) provided Charlie Longsdon with his first winner at the track courtesy of a bloodless 22-length victory in the HBG Novices’ Handicap Chase.

“He is a grand sort and it is nice to have an Ascot winner in my first season,” said Longsdon.

“I hope he doesn’t go up in the handicap too much for that and I would like to take him to Sandown on December 1 for another three-mile chase.”

Nigel Twiston-Davies and David England combined to take the Tabac Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race with 3-1 chance Golden Child, who defied a penalty to score by a length and a half.

The trainer said: “It was a very nice performance and he will go hurdling now; he has been jumping well at home.”

Duncliffe made virtually all under Daryl Jacob in the Pentagon Home Novices’ Hurdle and despite being pressed by Double Dizzy leaving the back straight, the 7-2 favourite stayed on best of all to beat his rival by four lengths.