Hardy Eustace - all set for Festival.

By Michael Clower

Hardy Eustace is the one they all have to beat in the Champion Hurdle and at his present price of 6-1 he is tremendous value.

That was the message from Gowran Park last Saturday when the champion won the Red Mills Trial Hurdle in considerable style. Admittedly he did not have much to beat and, as his 1-6 starting price indicated, the race was expected to be a cake walk.

But what was impressive was they way he did it. He used to be a lazy and often unimpressive horse, but not any longer. He took a handy position even though the pace was strong by Irish standards and in the straight he drew further and further away to win by 25 lengths without having to be asked a serious question. Little wonder that both Conor O'Dwyer and Dessie Hughes were delighted with him.

What is more, he did all this without the aid of blinkers which will be back on at Cheltenham because, as his trainer points out, "they didn't go astray last year."

The ground at Gowran was heavy and he has always looked a better horse on good going while Cheltenham brings out the best in him as he showed, not just last year, but in the 2003 SunAlliance Hurdle as well.

The progressive Essex is entitled to take his chance in the Champion after winning the totesport Hurdle in good style. However it's worth bearing in mind that, had Rooster Booster been in the line-up, Michael O'Brien's Irish Cesarewitch winner would only have had 10st 5lb on his back. He has to improve a lot more to have a chance on March 15 and on what he has done so far he is a long shot.

Ulaan Bataar served up an expensive reminder of how vulnerable Irish stables are to infection this season when his Arkle Trophy hopes suffered a well-nigh insuperable blow at Navan on Sunday. Many of Jessica Harrington's stable went down with a bug at Christmas and they seemed to be over it but this eight-year-old, so impressive in the Baileys Arkle at Leopardstown previously, could hardly raise a gallop over the last two fences.

In the circumstances you might think it foolish to go overboard about Watson Lake but Noel Meade's seven-year-old also looked the part in the first half of the season and he, together with Mouse Morris's War Of Attrition, look two outstanding candidates for the Arkle.

Meade is at last beginning to shrug off the minor virus that has taken a savage toll on the champion trainer's winner machine since Christmas, in the nick of time too with Harchibald nearing the final stages of his Cheltenham preparation.

Travino confirmed his status as the best bumper horse in Ireland with another impressive win on Sunday but he will not be risked at Cheltenham unless the ground comes up soft.

Several Cheltenham hopefuls go on trial at Fairyhouse and Naas at the weekend with Pizarro, Never Compromise and Central House looking likely winners.