RACING: Istabraq swaggered through a workout at Leopardstown racecourse yesterday, leaving him very much "on target" for a historic attempt at a fourth Champion Hurdle.
"He feels fantastic. That should put him spot on and I would say he is very much on target," beamed Charlie Swan after he had partnered Istabraq in his exercise.
Istabraq travelled over a mile and a quarter with his stable companion, Darapour, after the pair had first jumped two hurdles.
The horses initially went a decent canter but the ground at Leopardstown, which has taken two inches of rain in the last five days, was very testing and they slowed considerably with half a mile of the work to go.
"Charlie seems very happy with him and if Charlie is happy, so am I," said Aidan O'Brien, who had arrived by helicopter at the Dublin track with Swan and owner JP McManus's representative, Frank Berry.
Irish jump racing's star performer looked fit and well and was the centre of attention for a considerable number of photographers and onlookers who had turned up yesterday afternoon.
Istabraq is a 15 to 8 favourite for the big race in 13 days' time and has been the subject of considerable racecourse rumour about his well-being since his last race in December.
"I wish I had arthritis!" joked one onlooker as Istabraq cooled down in the stable yard and Swan played down fears of soft ground at Cheltenham.
"He has won on very soft ground so it wouldn't be the end of the world," the jockey said. "At the same time, he is better on good as he always seems to jump better on it." The going at Leopardstown was so bad that the track's racing manager, Tom Burke, admitted racing would not have been possible on the chase track yesterday.
"We are due to race on Sunday and we will need a couple of dry days," Burke added. Sunday also traditionally stages a significant series of post-race gallops for many Cheltenham hopefuls.
However, the conditions didn't stop Istabraq impressing Swan with his jumping over the two flights, the first time the horse has jumped since Christmas.
"He gave it height and was very quick," Swan said. "We went an even enough pace but the strong head wind steadied us up. On that ground we couldn't have gone much faster." Aidan O'Brien confirmed his happiness with the champion's preparation and added that Darapour will be his only other Cheltenham festival runner, in the Coral Eurobet Cup.
"It's just been a day away for Istabraq. Charlie says the horse feels unbelievably clear and that will be his final day away before Cheltenham," the Ballydoyle trainer said.
Swan could also be represented as a trainer at Cheltenham, although the ground will need to be good for Donadino (Grand Annual) and Anxious Moments (County Hurdle) to travel.
Other Cheltenham news centred on David Casey's decision to ride Foxchapel King instead of Sackville in the Gold Cup.
Foxchapel King's trainer, Mouse Morris, said yesterday: "It's all going to plan so far but there is still two weeks to go. He is basically ready. I've to just get him there sound, fresh and well in himself. He hasn't blotted his copybook this season and it's a very open race."
