Hughes hopeful for Eustace Champion Hurdle chances

Dessie Hughes is bullish about the chances of Hardy Eustace regaining his Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle title at Cheltenham.

The Archway gelding will bid to become the first 10-year-old since Sea Pigeon in 1980 to lift the crown and the first since Comedy Of Errors to claim it back.

Hardy Eustace showed he was still a major force when beating title-holder Brave Inca in the AIG Europe Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown last month.

“He’s great. He’s a good horse this year. He was under a cloud this time last year but everything has gone right for him this time round,” said Hughes.

“I wish the race was tomorrow.”

Winner of the Champion Hurdle in 2004 and 2005 and third to Brave Inca last March, Hardy Eustace went down by a length to England’s main hope Detroit City in the boylesports.com International Hurdle at Cheltenham in December.

However, Hughes has high hopes of turning the tables on last year’s Triumph Hurdle hero.

“I’m sure we have a chance of beating him,” he added.