Racing: Hardy Eustace, dual winner of the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle, is on course to make his first appearance of the autumn in the Carmel Keatley Memorial Handicap at the Curragh on Sunday.
Dessie Hughes plans to give the nine-year-old a spin on the Flat before a run over timber in the Philips Electronics Lismullen Hurdle at Navan on November 12.
Hughes said: "He runs on Sunday over a mile and six at the Curragh. He wasn't right last year and we couldn't get him out until December 31st, but he has been better this year and he will have his first run over hurdles in the Lismullen Hurdle at Navan."
Hughes' charge landed the Champion Hurdle in 2004 and 2005 but could finish only third behind Brave Inca this year, and occupied the same position in the ACC Bank Champion Hurdle at Punchestown the following month.
The veteran is a general 20-1 chance to make a winning return to Cheltenham next March.