Racing: Dessie Hughes is not too concerned about the prospect of heavy ground for Hardy Eustace in the AIG Europe Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown on Sunday week.
The nine-year-old was just touched off in third place behind Macs Joy 12 months ago and is building towards his bid for a hat-trick of victories in the Smurfit Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham in March.
"He should run well there, mind you they raced at Leopardstown on Sunday and the ground was bottomless," the County Kildare trainer said today.
"It won't improve much in a couple of weeks, it will be pretty deep. Last year it was heavy as well and he just got beat a short head and a head in it."
Hughes believes the Champion Hurdle will be just as difficult to win once more despite the absence through injury of last year's runner-up Harchibald.
"The competition in the Champion Hurdle will be similar to last year," he went on. "Brave Inca is a very good horse and it will be tough enough competition."
Hardy Eustace is a best-priced 4-1 to emulate Istabraq in 2000 and win the Champion Hurdle for the third year running.
The gelding made a successful reappearance since his second Champion Hurdle win when beating Native Upmanship over two and a half miles at Punchestown on New Year's Eve.
"He came out of his last race very well," Hughes added.