By Frank Keogh BBC Sport at Cheltenham

Flat jockey Richard Hughes is hopeful of claiming a win at the home of jump racing 24 hours after his father Dessie trained Hardy Eustace to win a second Champion Hurdle.

Hughes junior, who struggled with the weight demands of National Hunt racing before switching to the summer version early in his career, has a ride in Wednesday's Champion Bumper race.

Hughes has enjoyed plenty of success on the Flat

But he was beaming from ear to ear as he walked behind father Dessie when the Irish champion was led in to a raucous reception in the winner's enclosure on Tuesday.

He told BBC Sport it was rich reward for the time and effort his father puts into getting his horses right for the big day.

"When you see him work so hard, it's a pleasure to see him get something out of the game," he said.

"He's up in the morning at half six, and also there at night with them. He was stunned and astounded by the win.

DID YOU KNOW? Richard Hughes finished third on Paddy's Return in the 1997 Stayers' Hurdle (20-1)

"To win one race here at Cheltenham is fantastic, to come back and do it three times is unbelievable," he said of Hardy Eustace, who also won the Royal & Sun Alliance Novices' Hurdle in 2003.

Hardy Eustace saw off Harchibald and Brave Inca in a thrilling finish as Irish horses filled the first five positions.

Hardy Eustace claims big race

Paul Carberry, aboard runner-up Harchibald, appeared to be cruising in the final furlong and attracted some criticism for not pushing his mount harder.

But Hughes said: "Harchibald kicked on last year in the County Hurdle and then pulled up when in front, so what do these people want him to do?

"Hardy Eustace is very tough, the further you go up the Cheltenham hill, the better he gets.

"If it had been a bit further, he would have won by two lengths."

So, could Hardy Eustace emulate legendary Irish hurdler Istabraq with a third Champion Hurdle win in 2006?

"He's stronger than last year, so he would have a chance, but we will have to see," he said.

The odds say she has no chance, but she's a good filly Jockey Richard Hughes on his Champion Bumper mount Tiddle About

Hughes will join fellow Flat jockeys Kieren Fallon and Jamie Spencer, who have rides in the Champion Bumper race at Cheltenham on Wednesday.

It is the only one of 24 races at the Festival which has no jumps for horses to negotiate, and is effectively a two-mile Flat race race run under National Hunt rules.

Hughes rides the bottom weight Tiddle About, and believes the filly could be decent each-way value.

"She only carries 10st 5lbs, which is a help. She's been second twice and has the same owner (Laurence Byrne) as Hardy Eustace," she said.

"The odds say she has no chance, but she's a good filly and has some sort of chance."