Eustace a big doubt

Racing News: Hardy Eustace could this morning be declared for Sunday's AIG Europe Irish Champion but may still be withdrawn from the race on the day itself.

The reigning champion hurdler's trainer Dessie Hughes is facing an anxious weekend to see if ground conditions at Leopardstown allow him race Hardy Eustace.

Already Harchibald has been ruled out of the AIG and the prevailing poor weather has also raised serious questions over the participation of Accordion Etoile.

Hughes is, however, determined to wait as long as possible before making a final call about his stable star.

"We want to run. It's just we don't want to run on really heavy ground. I will leave it as late as possible. We may even declare him and see what conditions are like on the day," the Curragh trainer said yesterday.

Hardy Eustace's jockey Conor O'Dwyer walked the track at Leopardstown on Wednesday and reported the ground as being "heavy enough" to Hughes.

"I would say at the moment it is 50-50 about him running. That's about as much as I can say. If the ground gets better we'll run and if it doesn't we won't," Hughes added.

The official word regarding the going on the Leopardstown hurdles track is now "soft" but forecast rain for this evening could hold the key.

"A lot will depend on how much we get. We're told it could be quite heavy but it's very hard to know for certain. The weekend then is supposed to get colder so it's one extreme to the other," said Leopardstown's racing manager Tom Burke.

More defections could result in a small field to equal two years ago when only four opponents took on the eventual winner Like-A-Butterfly.

Noel Meade has officially called time on Harchibald running in the AIG and the Smurfit Champion Hurdle favourite will now not race until Cheltenham.

"The ground was not ideal so we're going to give him an easy weekend instead," Meade said.

Paul Nolan has also raised doubts over Accordion Etoile but one man with no such concerns is Brave Inca's trainer Colm Murphy, who says his horse to be on course for Sunday's race.

"We scoped him this morning and it's so far so good. He is in serious order," said Murphy.

Brave Inca remains the big ante-post threat to the AIG favourite Macs Joy but Accordion Etoile is now out to 8 to 1.

AIG BETTING

Paddy Power: 6-4 Macs Joy, 11-4 Brave Inca, 9-2 Solerina, 6 Hardy Eustace, 13-2 Georges Girl, 8 Accordion Etoile.