Hardy springs 33/1 shock to take Champion Hurdle

Hardy Eustace, ridden by Conor O'Dwyer, virtually made all at odds of 33/1 to give Ireland victory in the Smurfit Champion Hurdle.

Dessie Hughes' charge set a steady pace on last year's Royal & Sun Alliance Hurdle winner as reigning champion Rooster Booster lobbed along at the back of the field.

Richard Johnson took a pull on Rooster Booster approaching three fences out as he was going so well, and jumped the last narrowly in front.

But Hardy Eustace found plenty in reserve up the hill and ran out an emphatic five-length winner in the end at odds of 33-1.

The victory was a particularly emotional one as the Dessie Hughes-trained winner was ridden to victory at last year's Festival by the late Kieran Kelly.

Hardy Eustace was only switched to this race at the last minute as he had been an intended runner in tomorrow's Coral Cup.

Rooster Booster had looked to be travelling so well, but Hardy Eustace is a real tough sort who gets every yard and more of the two-mile trip and was just too strong.

The challenge of Geos, conqueror of Rooster Booster last time out in the Tote Gold Trophy, ended when he was pulled up before the third-last.

Intersky Falcon (8-1) had tracked Rooster Booster (11-8) from some way out but was unable to go with the first two and finished a creditable third, a further four lengths behind.  Second favourite Rigmarole never got in a blow.

Spare a thought for Kieran,  was Hughes's immediate post-race reaction. Kelly won on Hardy Eustace at the Festival last year, but died from injuries received in a fall at Kilbeggan in August.

"I can't describe it, fantastic, especially with the Kieran situation, it just makes it all the more emotional,"  O'Dwyer told Channel 4

Filed by James McMahon