Eustace set for Punchestown

Racing NewsThe Champion Hurdle-winner, Hardy Eustace, will bypass a trip to Liverpool and wait instead for the Punchestown festival.

In the immediate aftermath of his dramatic Cheltenham victory, trainer Dessie Hughes had mentioned the Martell Aintree Hurdle as a possible target for Hardy Eustace but that has now been ruled out.

"It comes up too quickly after Cheltenham this season," Hughes explained yesterday. "He has to have this week off so it's not possible and we will wait for Punchestown (Emo Oil Champion Hurdle) instead."

The good news is that Hardy Eustace has emerged in top shape from his surprise defeat of Rooster Booster.

"He is looking fantastic and it seems like he had a very easy race at Cheltenham. I know that seems a bit strange but it doesn't look like he had a hard race at all," the trainer added.

The sole-Hughes runner at the Liverpool festival will be Timbera who is as short as 12 to 1 second favourite for the Grand National.

One star name that could take on Hardy Eustace in the Punchestown race is Solerina who will also be given an entry in the Stayers race at the festival.

"I just felt she didn't get the trip at Cheltenham. Two and a half miles is probably ideal for her but there is no championship race at that distance," said Michael Bowe yesterday.

"If Iris's Gift and Baracouda come to Punchestown it will be a very hot Stayers race so we might possibly run in the two-mile race instead. A lot will depend on the ground too.

"She has come out of Cheltenham very well. If anything she has come on for it. Aintree is unlikely and there is a two-mile flat race at the Curragh in a couple of weeks that might be ideal for a spin," he added.

Another big name that is being lined up for the Punchestown Friday highlight is Back In Front who missed out on Cheltenham due to injury.

"He is back cantering and Punchestown is definitely on the agenda. It just depends on him staying right until then," said trainer Edward O'Grady, who also had news of his star novice chaser, Pizarro.

"He is fine and the plan is for him to go out to grass. I would hope the Gold Cup would be on the agenda next year," he said.

Pizarro was brought down by Mossy Green at the second last fence in the SunAlliance Chase at Cheltenham nine days ago.

One other horse on his summer holidays is Martinstown who was a major disappointment when favourite for the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham.

The Willie Mullins-trained Hedgehunter, winner of the Thyestes at Gowran on his last start, is now a 10 to 1 favourite for Saturday week's Aintree Grand National.

David Casey will again ride the Trevor Hemmings-owned stayer while Mullins also hopes to be represented in the National by Alexander Banquet who ran last time in the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

The going at the course was yesterday described as soft following 39 millimetres of rain in the last two weeks.