Istabraq in plan change

Frost and snow may deny Leopardstown the chance of hosting Istabraq this afternoon, but Aidan O'Brien hinted strongly yesterday that this Christmas outing could be the champion hurdler's sole pre-Cheltenham race.

Istabraq has won the AIB Agri-Business December Festival Hurdle, scheduled for today, for the last three years and has a similar three from three record in the AIG Champion Hurdle, his traditional pre-Cheltenham warm-up. However, the AIG race on January 21st could be missed out this season.

Asked yesterday if Istabraq would take in next month's Leopardstown feature, O'Brien said: "It's possible he could go straight to Cheltenham. It may be just this race and then Cheltenham, that's all."

The Ballydoyle trainer is concerned the 51-day gap between the AIG and Cheltenham could be too much to allow Istabraq run in both and still peak on March 13th.

Thus Istabraq's Christmas outing looks to take on an even extra significance, especially since O'Brien admitted the horse is not as forward as he usually is at this time of year.

"He is probably a bit behind and the reason for that is it is so long since he last ran. He hasn't done much, but so far it has been so good and he is ready for a run. The uncertainty about the weather is not ideal but it will be great if they can race at all, even on Sunday," O'Brien added.

Istabraq's jockey Charlie Swan also gave an upbeat bulletin and said: "I rode him the other day and he felt great. The race should be a good test for him. Moscow Flyer and Stage Affair are no slouches."

Istabraq, as low as 4 to 7 ante-post favourite to complete an unprecedented Champion Hurdle four-timer at Cheltenham in March, hasn't appeared since his dramatic Cheltenham victory last season when a bloody nose scare threatened to stop him taking his chance.

Even considering that and Swan's correct assertion that Moscow Flyer and Stage Affair are indeed no slouches it will be a major surprise if Istabraq doesn't win - whatever day his race is run.

He is officially rated a colossal 30lb clear of Stage Affair, who he has beaten twice already, and Moscow Flyer found the subsequently disappointing Youlneverwalkalone three and a half lengths too good at Fairyhouse.

Racing opens with the beginners' chase, where the very decent Ross Moff has a first start over fences. An easy winner from Minella Hotel and Hot Stuff off a 128 rating at Fairyhouse last April, Ross Moff is clearly above average, and even though he may prefer further than this trip, Conor O'Dwyer's ride should win.

The form of Section Seven's Conyngham Cup victory got a major boost from Call Me Dara on Wednesday, and this horse, a revelation for Austin Leahy, must be fancied in the Madigans Handicap Chase; while Creux Noir is the selection in the handicap hurdle.

The young amateur Alan Crowe has had a very successful Christmas so far on Christy Roche-trained horses and maybe the Montelimar newcomer, Like-A-Butterfly, can continue the trend in the first bumper.

Michael Hourigan's A Friend Of Mine can beat the younger Naomh Padraig in the other bumper; and Colonel Braxton can gain a second course success in the maiden hurdle.