Istabraq was today described by trainer Aidan O'Brien as ready for the challenge of the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham next Tuesday and has quashed any rumours of the horse not travelling in search of a fourth win in a row in the big race of day one of the Festival.
The have been rumours that all was not well with the 10-year-old's preparations and O'Brien admitted that there had been problems mostly accentuated by the horse's age. But O'Brien confirmed today that Istabraq will travel next Monday and defend his Champion Hurdle title on Tuesday but he added that he was hoping for nothing more than a good competitive run and for the horse to travel back safely to Ballydoyle.
Filed by Laura Reynolds
