Istabraq has been named among the eight runners in the AIG Europe Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown on Sunday, despite continuing doubts over his fitness. Aidan O'Brien's charge, a faller for the first time in his 25-race career over timber at Leopardstown last month, has been the subject of much media speculation this week, but O'Brien insists he is ready to return to the track.
Bookmakers make Istabraq a 1-2 chance, after being 1-3 on yesterday, to win the race for the fourth year running. Istabraq's owner JP McManus also has the Christy Roche-trained pair Aerleon Pete and Youlneverwalkalone entered in the Grade One contest. However, Youlneverwalkalone, pulled up behind Geos in the Bula Hurdle in December last time, and Aerleon Pete could run instead in the Red Square And Red Alert Energising Champion Hurdle Trial at Haydock Park the previous afternoon.
Explaining Youlneverwalkalone's poor effort at Cheltenham, Roche said: "He got staked at the first flight and luckily the Cheltenham vets treated him right away. I've never seen anything like it before. We are sticking to a routine with him. He does a lot of swimming and canters every fourth day. It seems to work with this horse. Everything's okay with him now and he's in good nick. Haydock is the plan for Aerleon Pete and Youlneverwalkalone."
Moscow Flyer, Stage Affair and Mantles Prince, first, second and third respectively when Istabraq came to grief are all entered again on Sunday. And trainer Dermot Weld has confirmed Stage Affair on course for the £100,000 contest. Weld claimed: "He's in great form and is a definite runner on Sunday. It was very heavy at Leopardstown, they did well to race. He wants good ground so let's hope it's a dry week."
The AIG Champion Hurdle entries are completed by Moscow Flyer's stable companion Have Merci and Penny Rich. Cashmans AIG Europe Champion Hurdle betting: 1-3 Istabraq, 6-1 Moscow Flyer, Stage Affair, 12-1 Mantles Prince, 33-1 Penny Rich, 50-1 Aerleon Pete, Have Merci.
The going at Leopardstown is currently described as soft.
Filed by Shane Murray
