HARDY EUSTACE ATTEMPTS HISTORY

Hardy Eustace, winner of the Smurfit Champion Hurdle for the past two years, heads the 35 entries for this year?s renewal, run on the opening day of The Festival 2006, Tuesday, March 14.

The Dessie Hughes-trained nine-year-old will be attempting to become the sixth horse to land hurdling?s greatest prize three times, following on from Hatton?s Grace, Sir Ken, Persian War, See You Then and Istabraq. Hardy Eustace recently confirmed his well-being with a comfortable success on his seasonal reappearance at Punchestown on New Year?s Eve.

Hardy Eustace shares favouritism at 4-1 with VC Bet with Howard Johnson?s progressive Arcalis, a six-length winner of the Supreme Novices last and equally impressive when reappearing in the ?Fighting Fifth at Newcastle last November.

Both Harchibald and Brave Inca, second and third respectively behind Hardy Eustace in 2005, giving the Irish a 1-2-3, are entered again and are among 13 entries hailing from Ireland this year.

SMURFIT CHAMPION HURDLE

4 Hardy Eustace
4 Arcalis
9/2 Brave Inca
5 Feathard Lady
7 Lingo
14 Faasel
20 Essex
25 Macs Joy
33 Penzance
33 Al Eile
40 United
50 Intersky Falcon
50 Royal Shakespeare

Each Way ? 1-2-3 Others On Request

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