Istabraq continues to please

Istabraq continues to please Aidan O'Brien in his preparation for Cheltenham and the trainer has not ruled out giving the triple champion hurdler a racecourse school before the festival in three weeks' time.

Istabraq has schooled at Leopardstown once already this season, before his sole race of the term that saw him beat Bust Out over Christmas.

Yesterday O'Brien said: "I'm not sure what we will do yet. I wouldn't rule out taking him somewhere but we will take it week by week with him." O'Brien added: "He is cantering away at the moment and we are happy with the stage he is at in his preparation. It's so far, so good with him."

Colonel Braxton will try and get a disrupted season back on track ahead of Cheltenham when he reappears at Naas on Sunday in the Nás Na Ríogh Chase.

The leading Royal & SunAlliance hopeful missed the Dr PJ Moriarty Chase at Leopardstown due to a disappointing blood test before the race.

However, his trainer Dessie Hughes said yesterday: "He is perfect now and is going to Naas. He has scoped clean and is in great order. I'm happy to run him.

"Who knows, it might be a good thing he didn't run in the Moriarty. The horses that did run looked to have very hard races on ground that looked bottomless."

Colonel Braxton has run just twice this season, falling early on his debut and running second to Give Over in the Neville Chase at Christmas. In between, an intended start at Punchestown had to be scratched after the track was found to be unraceable.

Also on Sunday, a possible clash between the Champion Chase hopefuls Knife Edge and Native Upmanship is looming in the Newlands Chase. Also in the race is the Racing Post Chase topweight Commanche Court.

Naas will be the final test for many Cheltenham hopefuls, including the Dermot Weld -trained Direct Bearing who figures among the entries for the Johnstown Hurdle along with Over The Bar and Yeoman's Point.

Paddy Power Champion Hurdle betting: 7/4 Istabraq, 7/2 Valiramix, 9/2 Landing Light, 5 Ned Kelly, 12 Bilboa, 16 Brother Joe, 25 bar.