Swan will ride three for O'Brien at Cheltenham

Charlie Swan is as low as 7 to 1 to be the leading jockey at the upcoming Cheltenham festival despite not having any rides over fences.

Swan has ridden only over hurdles this season and his book of rides at Cheltenham is headed by the Champion Hurdler Istabraq.

He also rides the other Aidan O'Brien horses, Le Coudray in the Stayers Hurdle and Give It Holly in the Festival Bumper. Swan will also ride Christy Roche's Triumph Hurdle hope, Afarad.

Darapour in the Coral Cup and Daraheen Chief in the County Hurdle are other Swan possibles, but as for Paddy Power's 7 to 1 leading-rider quote, the jockey said yesterday: "It seems a skimpy price when I'm not riding over fences. There may be other handicap rides but I've nothing planned for the Supreme Novices or the SunAlliance at the moment."

Swan has twice previously won the leading jockey's prize at Cheltenham, in 1993 and 1994.

Tony McCoy is the warm favourite with all firms to pick up the London Clubs Charity Trophy for the third year running. McCoy is 13 to 8 with Corals while Norman Williamson is a best-priced 7 to 2 second favourite.

Aidan O'Brien yesterday reported Istabraq to be in fine shape as he prepares for the Champion Hurdle.

"So far, so good with our horses. Istabraq is a heavier horse this year and we won't know what that means until we get to Cheltenham," O'Brien said. The Ballydoyle trainer intends having a team of five at Cheltenham, with Theatreworld going again for the Champion Hurdle.

O'Brien's expensive French import Le Coudray figures among the entries for Sunday's Brannockstown Handicap Hurdle, but he said: "I haven't spoken to JP (McManus) yet but I would imagine he is a doubtful runner in that."

One Cheltenham possible who will run at Leopardstown is Kevin Prendergast's Festival bumper prospect Hobart Frisbey.

The four-year-old has won his only race so far but a decision on whether he goes to Cheltenham will be left until after Sunday.

"He is a very young horse. He won't be four until May 20th so I'm not sure about Cheltenham yet. He'll be running against his own age group on Sunday and if he doesn't win that then there will be no point talking about Cheltenham," Prendergast said.

The recent bad weather, however, has forced Leopardstown to call off any post-race schooling on the flat and hurdles course on Sunday. The management will, though, try and facilitate and trainers who want to school their Cheltenham horses over fences, provided arrangements are made by tomorrow.

In other news, the Turf Club have appointed two new racing officials. Former champion national point-to-point rider Paddy Graffin, 37, has been recruited to augment numbers following the promotion of Peter Matthews to Senior stewards secretary. Graffin, currently training some racehorses, is set to start his new job on April 5th.

Gary O'Gorman, a barrister from Castleknock, will succeed Dermot McDermott, the assistant flat handicapper, who retires next year.