Racing: Hughes hoping for champion comeback

Four weeks today the tapes go up at the Cheltenham Festival and if the doors of the last chance saloon have not quite banged shut for contenders, those of the penultimate chance wine bar next door are certainly swinging. And on Saturday the defending hurdles champion Hardy Eustace will head towards them, trying to straighten his slipping crown.

Twelve months ago, after a fighting third place in a finish of heads at Leopardstown, the Dessie Hughes-trained gelding won the Red Mills Trial Hurdle at Gowran Park, his final prep before going on to win his second title. But though the programme is the same, circumstances are rather different, for the nine-year-old comes to the Grade Two contest in Co Kilkenny off a lacklustre last place to the horse who has supplanted him as Champion Hurdle favourite, Brave Inca.

That performance still baffles Hughes. "Nothing has come to light to explain it," he said yesterday. "But he seems fine at the moment, in good form, and he's showing me all the right signs." Hughes is hoping there may be a pattern within his own yard, for another of his charges, Central House, also ran mysteriously badly in January before bouncing back with a victory nine days ago. "Hopefully the same thing will happen," he added, "and this is the last real opportunity to get a run into him."

Saturday's race will be a real test, for Macs Joy, only a length behind Brave Inca last time, is an intended runner. "It looks a good race," said his trainer, Jessica Harrington, whose stable is in resurgent form after a lull. "But he ran very well at Leopardstown and he should come on for that. He was doing his best work towards the end, which was pleasing."

A third fascinating contender, if a spin this morning goes to plan, will be the high-class staying mare Asian Maze, a dual Grade One winner as a novice last year but not seen since Punchestown in April.

"She's had a few little niggles," said trainer Tom Mullins. "But she needs a run now. I don't expect her to beat Hardy Eustace and Macs Joy but as long as she shows us she's well, I'll be happy. If she did run a big race then we'd consider the Champion Hurdle, but at the moment the World Hurdle is the plan." Talented but troubled Iris's Gift will go straight to the Festival without another outing, but two Gold Cup contenders denied a run at Newbury by frost - the joint favourite Monkerhostin and last year's runner-up take The Stand - have been entered in Saturday's Ascot Chase over two and a half miles at Lingfield.

The same card will feature the Game Spirit Chase, rescheduled from Newbury and a likely target for Champion Chase market leader Kauto Star. The other Gold Cup favourite Beef Or Salmon was reported yesterday to be in fine fettle after trouncing Hedgehunter (whose Blue Riband participation will be decided today, after the announcement of the weights for the Grand National) in the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup on Sunday. "He has come out of the race brilliantly," said trainer Michael Hourigan, "and is out in the paddock enjoying himself."

The 10-year-old's Leopardstown success was his eighth at the top level, and took him into rarefied company. Only three horses have won more Grade One races: Istabraq, who took 14, Moscow Flyer (13) and Florida Pearl (nine).

Chris McGrath

Nap: Blue Patrick (Southwell 3.30)

NB: Topkat

(Folkestone 3.20)