Leopardstown preview: The long time ante-post market leaders Aitmatov and Sizing Europe miss out on today's Grade One highlight at Leopardstown but their absence is more than made up for by the surprise inclusion of Hardy Eustace in the final-day festival feature.
Dessie Hughes's decision to include the former dual champion in the Bewleyshotels December Festival Hurdle adds an intriguing twist to a six-runner field that also includes Noel Meade's Morgiana winner Jazz Messenger.
He flies the Meade flag instead of Aitmatov, who could travel for a race in Britain next month, while the AIG is now the target for Sizing Europe, who was found to have mucus in his lungs after a routine scope yesterday morning.
Conor O'Dwyer came in for some stick about his ride on Hardy Eustace in last Saturday's Long Walk Hurdle, where the famous partnership came up nine lengths short of the all-the-way winner, Lough Derg.
That flak seemed remarkably unfair considering the veteran jockey was unsure of his horse's stamina and also had to keep in mind the threat posed from behind him by Black Jack Ketchum.
The chance to banish that memory comes quicker than expected though and O'Dwyer said yesterday: "If he comes back to the sort of form he showed at Leopardstown in the AIG he will take a hell of a lot of beating."
Last January's epic AIG defeat of Brave Inca is the best that Hardy Eustace has achieved around Leopardstown during his illustrious 36-race career but today's race has proved a less-happy hunting ground.
In 2004 Hardy Eustace ran third to the ill-fated Macs Joy while the year before he finished last behind the shock 66 to 1 winner, Golden Cross.
"I don't think he had a race at Ascot, to be honest," said Hughes. "He is well and fresh and at this stage of his career I don't think another race will do him any harm. It's five weeks to the AIG so it gives him plenty of time to recover."
Hardy Eustace is back in blinkers this time after running without them at Ascot and his front-running style should set up the race today for quite a few of the others, including Jazz Messenger, who put in his best ever round of jumping when successful in the Morgiana and then followed up with a comfortable defeat of Sweet Kiln at Navan.
Along with Ebaziyan, Farmer Brown and Al Eile, he is almost certain to employ stalking tactics this afternoon, a policy that could also pay off at a value price for Clopf.
Last season's Punchestown champion novice hurdle winner boasts two defeats of Aitmatov last year, when his actual hurdling technique was praised by trainer Edward O'Grady.
The Champion Hurdle has been a long-term aim for Clopf this season, though he returned to training having done so well at grass that O'Grady has had to adopt a patient approach in bringing him back to full fitness.
A run on the flat at Galway was followed by a reasonable effort in the Morgiana, though O'Grady was subsequently disappointed by a run in the Fighting Fifth when Clopf was 15 lengths behind Harchibald.
Clopf was bang there two out that day, however, and it could be worth betting at a big price that fitness caught him out again.
O'Grady has insisted throughout that today will be the vital test of his horse's Champion Hurdle credentials and for a good jumping type with a turn of finishing speed, the two miles around Leopardstown could be set up for Clopf.
