15 years ago, three Irish horses, Hardy Eustace, Harchibald and Brave Inca battled it out up the Cheltenham hill for the Champion Hurdle.
Hardy Eustace won. It was one of the great races in history.
His big race jockey that day Conor O'Dwyer joined John Duggan for a trip down memory lane on 'The Saturday Panel', three days before the start of Cheltenham 2020.
From Wexford, O'Dwyer was one of the most popular jumps jockeys in Ireland, before retiring in 2008 to start a training career.
The story of Hardy Eustace is tinged with joy and sadness.
Trained by the late Dessie Hughes, the horse landed the Royal and Sun Alliance Novices' Hurdle in 2003. His jockey that day was Kildare native Kieran Kelly, tasting success at Cheltenham for the first ever time. Later that year, Kieran would lose his life in a fall at Kilbeggan. He was only 25.
Conor would pick up the ride on Hardy Eustace, but tragedies such as Kieran's passing leave a chasm in the weigh room.
“It does. He was a quiet, shy sort of a fellow. Yet, he had a great sense of humour and was a lively character in the weigh room. When something like that happens it hits home how dangerous the sport really is. You are going about your business one day and then all of a sudden, tragedy strikes. It’s leaves a big hole.”
In 2004, Hardy Eustace was an unconsidered 33/1 shot for the Champion Hurdle, following an indifferent campaign. He was stepping back in trip, but following the application of blinkers to aid his concentration, O'Dwyer guided his horse to a shock victory over the hot favourite, Rooster Booster.
And O'Dwyer reveals it was some advance homework that proved crucial on the day.
“I rode him not thinking early on we were going to win. Halfway around, I thought, you know, we have a big shout here. Trainer Mouse Morris walked the track with me and he always said to me, there’s a little rise up the hill before you run down the hill before the third last flight. He said to me that anytime you are riding one of my horses, do not make any ground here. Give them a breather. And it was probably one of the best bits of advice I ever got. I did it that day and always did it. You can win and lose races there.”
Winner of the Smurfit Champion Hurdle Challenge trophy Hardy Eustace with jockey Conor O'Dwyer (left) and owner Laurence Byrne.
A year later, O'Dwyer and Hardy Eustace would return to Cheltenham, bidding to go back to back.
The 2005 renewal was an incredible race, bursting with talented horses, and the two mile contest was symbolic of a new found Irish confidence at Cheltenham. It was the height of the Celtic Tiger, and that year, a new record of 10 Irish winners was set at Cheltenham. No surprise then that the first four home in the Champion Hurdle were Irish trained.
The statistics say one thing, but watching the race brings a new dimension of meaning. Rooster Booster, Essex, Back in Front and Macs Joy all faded as three horses, Hardy Eustace, Harchibald and Brave Inca fought for life up the fabled Cheltenham hill.
What made the race all the more remarkable is that Harchibald was cruising under jockey Paul Carberry, but his horse found nothing for pressure and O'Dwyer and Hardy Eustace bravely repelled their challenge by a neck.
A decade and a half later, O'Dwyer speaks with conviction of the legendary status of the 2005 Champion Hurdle.
“It’s probably one of the greatest races at Cheltenham, ever. To be involved in it was something else, but without that, just to watch it still gets the hair standing at the back of my neck. It was amazing, we went to the last and Paul Carberry is sitting absolutely motionless on Harchibald. I could see him coming. Hardy Eustace was an unbelievable horse. When we were halfway up the hill, once you felt his head getting low, unless something went by him very quickly, nothing was going to go by him. His will to win was unbelievable. I think Paul was in shock. I think I was in shock that we’d gotten two Champion Hurdles. And again, your first thoughts are with Kieran Kelly. A lot of mixed emotions, and probably one of the most memorable races in Cheltenham. It was a fantastic era of Champion Hurdlers.”
Download the brand new OffTheBall App in the Play Store & App Store right now! We've got you covered!
Subscribe to OffTheBall's YouTube channel for more videos, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter for the latest sporting news and content.
