News: Hardy Eustace has been installed as the main market threat to Brave Inca in Sunday's AIG Europe Irish Champion Hurdle but Cheltenham rather than Leopardstown appears to remain a number-one target for the Dessie Hughes-trained star.
Just as last year, when failing by a short head in an epic AIG finish behind Macs Joy and Brave Inca, Hardy Eustace will not wear blinkers. Instead the headgear will be kept in reserve for the Smurfit Champion Hurdle in March.
"We didn't put them on him last year until Cheltenham and it worked so hopefully the same will happen this time," said Hughes yesterday. "But he is pretty straight and he won't fail because of fitness. I'm just hoping for decent ground."
Brave Inca and Macs Joy are again among the opposition to Hardy Eustace after eight horses were left in at yesterday's forfeit stage. Also among the eight are Golden Cross, another Leopardstown Grade One winner, as well as Al Eile, a doubtful runner according to the betting, and Sadlers Wings.
Nicky Richards's veteran The French Furze is the sole cross-channel entry but no British-trained horse has won the AIG since Collier Bay 10 years ago.
Bookmaker reaction was to make Brave Inca as short as even favourite to come out on top with Hardy Eustace at 7 to 4 and last year's winner Macs Joy as high as 8 to 1.
Leopardstown's feature is a rare big race blank for Hardy Eustace's jockey Conor O'Dwyer but he too will have one eye on the Cotswolds during the weekend.
"I'm hoping for a really good run and Dessie says he is in fantastic form. But I'm not expecting miracles," insisted the veteran rider yesterday. "To me everything is geared around Cheltenham, not Sunday. Obviously we will be doing our best and we want to win but to me there is one day you really want to come out on top.
"I think the track at Leopardstown is against him because it's not tough enough and the ground might be against him too. I was delighted with the way he went about his business the last day, and he definitely feels a stronger horse this year, but I still reckon there will be improvement to come," O'Dwyer added.
Significantly though, the Leopardstown authorities are predicting "yielding" ground for Sunday with a dry week forecast.
"It's yielding to soft on the hurdles course and soft on the chase at the moment," said the track's racing manager Tom Burke yesterday. "I don't think it will be worse than yielding by the weekend. There isn't much drying there but still things should improve."
That will also be good news for the Brave Inca team who have had to announce that Feathard Lady will not be able to run in the Champion Hurdle due to a fetlock problem.
"On veterinary advice we have decided we are not going to make it," said Colm Murphy.
"Hopefully the plan now is to have her back for Punchestown. That gives us a few extra weeks."
Murphy added: "Brave Inca did a nice bit of work this morning. The better the ground, the better his chance will be. He doesn't seem to travel or jump out of testing ground quite as well."
Tony McCoy will again be on board Brave Inca on Sunday and will also team up with Justified in the Grade One Baileys Arkle Chase. McCoy won on Dusty Sheehy's horse when riding him for the first time at Newbury earlier in the month.
A total of just nine horses remain in the Arkle but they include the cream of Ireland's two-mile novices including the Durkan winner Missed That and the ex-French sensation Nickname.
The latter's trainer Martin Brassil admitted yesterday he was "very tempted" by Sunday's race but that the PJ Moriarty two weeks later remains a possible alternative.
Nickname is 6 to 4 favourite with Paddy Power with Justified next best to atone for a first fence fall at the track on St Stephen's Day.
Twelve entries remain in the Grade Two Walls Golden Cygnet Novices Hurdle including the Grade One Barry and Sandra Kelly Memorial winner Travino from the Mags Mullins yard. Noel Meade has two remaining in the race including Nicanor while Tom Taaffe's course winner Finger On the Pulse is an intended starter.
Big Race Betting
IRISH CHAMPION HURDLE
Paddy Power: 11-8 Brave Inca, 7-4 Hardy Eustace, 11-2 Golden Cross, 6 Macs Joy, 20 The French Furze, 25 Arch Rebel, 33 Sadlers Wings.
Cashmans: Evs Brave Inca, 6-4 Hardy Eustace, 8 Macs Joy, 9 Golden Cross, 20 Sadlers Wings, 33 The French Furze.
ARKLE CHASE
Paddy Power: 6-4 Nickname, 7-4 Justified, 11-4 Missed That, 12 Mansony, 20 Tiger Cry, 25 Arteea, 33 Bar.
