Istabraq returned to a hero's reception after bouncing back in style with an emphatic victory at Leopardstown today. Cheers rang out round the winner's enclosure for Ireland's most popular jumper, silencing those who had doubted the three-time champion hurdler since his fall on the same course on New Year's Eve.
He romped to a fourth straight win in the AIG Europe Champion Hurdle, making a mockery of rumours that all was not well with him which had seen his odds for Cheltenham drift markedly last week. Ironically it was Moscow Flyer - who won the race on New Year's Eve - who came to grief this time, hitting the deck two flights from home when in the lead.
That handed the advantage to Istabraq, sent off 4-11 favourite, who had already looked to have his measure at that stage. And after a fine leap at the last - where he had fallen three weeks ago – he passed the post four and a half lengths clear without being asked a serious question by jockey Charlie Swan. Mantles Prince took second, two lengths ahead of 50-1 shot Penny Rich in third.
A 22nd win in 26 National Hunt races also made Istabraq the first jumper in Britain or Ireland to win over £1 million in prize money. “I'm very happy and Charlie is very happy,” said trainer Aidan O'Brien. “Everything went right today. The ground was a bit tacky but he loved the level pace - he finds it very easy to go a strong pace. We have trained him very cautiously this year to peak at the right time so hopefully he will be better for the race and he should go to Cheltenham with a big shout if we can keep him in one piece.”
O'Brien denied there had been any worry about Istabraq's condition despite press speculation. “Every day is a big day with a horse who has been trained very hard for five years but we were always happy at home,” he said. “The rumours didn't mean a lot to me, they didn't bother me - we have had no worries.”
“It is very realistic to hope he can win at Cheltenham again. I hope he goes there in as good form as he was today - he definitely can do it. He did it like we thought he would today - in fact better than we thought. He jumped brilliantly and travelled as well as ever. He met the last on a horrible stride but he gave it a load of height,” O’Brien added.
Filed by Sinéad Kissane
