There were wonderful scenes at Punchestown on Sunday when Hardy Eustace bagged his seventh career Grade 1 success when he won the Maplewood Developments Hurdle.

Sent off as a generally unfancied 14/1 shot, Dessie Hughes’ 11-year-old was having his first start of the season after missing the Lismullen Hurdle seven days earlier due to the heavy ground. Last Sunday’s race also saw Paddy Flood ride Lar Byrne’s charge for the first time in public, taking over from the retired Conor O’Dwyer.

Wearing his customary blinkers Hardy Eustace was out in front early as he bidded to make all in Sunday’s big race but it looked as though he would have to settle for second best when overtaken by Sizing Europe having jumped the second last with Andrew McNamara’s mount travelling extremely well ahead of the hard-driven Eustace.

With race favourite Jered also struggling, it looked as though Sizing Europe was going to put up an impressive seasonal reappearance as he led the four runner field turning into the straight but one of the reasons for Hardy Eustace’s career success has been his courage and battling qualities and it wasn’t long before he was closing the gap on the leader.

Indeed, by the time Sizing Europe had arrived at the final flight, Hardy Eustace was back in front and a spring-heeled leap at that final hurdle settled the contest before the three-time Cheltenham Festival winner sent the Punchestown crowd into elation after crossing the line two and a half lengths clear of his opposition.

The scenes which followed this victory in the winners’ enclosure were the best witnessed at Punchestown in quite some time and Sunday’s success clearly shows that Hardy Eustace is still very much a force to be reckoned with. He’ll now head to Fairyhouse at the end of the month for the Grade 1 Hatton’s Grace Hurdle over 2m4f where he will meet Catch Me, who was equally as impressive when winning the Lismullen Hurdle at Navan. That race promises to be a real treat for race goers.

It was a great sight to see Hardy Eustace win but there’s no doubt that the horse to take out of Sunday’s race was the runner-up - Sizing Europe, who looked as though he was going to annihilate the opposition when he hit the front at the second last flight before clearly blowing up.

His trainer Henry de Bromhead stated before the race that his stable star would very much need the run on Sunday and following that pipe-opener, he’ll now go for the Christmas Hurdle at Leopardstown as a leading fancy. He is also a main contender for Champion Hurdle honours at Cheltenham in March following last Sunday’s eye-catching performance.

It was a good two day card at Punchestown over the weekend which also saw the Tony Martin-trained Northern Alliance show that he could be a future big race winner when he landed the Grade 2 Novice Chase, although the field may not have been up to Grade 2 standard. However, the winner finished well under Paul Carberry and it will be interesting to see if Northern Alliance can build on this victory over the coming months.

There was also an intriguing looking beginners’ chase on Sunday’s card, where one of the leading fancies Barker, fell midway through the race, and victory in the end went to Casey Jones ahead of Golden Silver and Aranleigh. Noel Meade has high hopes for the winner and Casey Jones is part of what looks an exciting team of novice chasers for the Meath trainer this season.

Following Hardy Eustace’s win, Dessie Hughes completed a double when Western Charmer beat the likes of Corskeagh Royale, Mick The Man and Time Electric in the INH Stallion Owners EBF Maiden Hurdle in impressive fashion.

The pick of the winners on Saturday’s card at Punchestown was Trafford Lad’s victory in the Grade 3 Florida Pearl Novice Chase. Also worthy of note was Drombeag winning the Risk Of Thunder Cross Country Chase for Enda Bolger and Nina Carberry.

Robert