Hardy Eustace a hard act to follow - Our Conor gave it a good go

Eyewitness tale

Richard Hughes reflects on the Triumph Hurdle success of Our Conor, trained by his late father Dessie

The 2013 Triumph Hurdle was all about the awesome Our Conor. He was trained by the masterful Dessie Hughes, who had last enjoyed a Cheltenham Festival winner with star two-miler Hardy Eustace in the 2005 Champion Hurdle. Here, Irish juvenile hotpot Our Conor was well fancied to maintain his unbeaten record over hurdles – and boy did he deliver. He romped in, streaking clear by 15 lengths under young jockey Bryan Cooper, much to the delight of his confident connections. But that was to be his finest hour, with Our Conor suffering a fatal fall during the Champion Hurdle the following year.

The Triumph was brilliant. You think you’re only going to get a horse like Hardy Eustace once in a lifetime – but that's what’s Dad always told us, they don’t come around very often and you have to appreciate them.