Magnificent performance by Istabraq

It was win number 20 from 23 starts for Istabraq in yesterday's AIG Europe Champion Hurdle and it ranks among his greatest.

Maybe his first Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham was more stunning and possibly last April's Aintree Hurdle carried more panache, but here is an equine athlete at the peak of his powers and we are already trying to put his performances in context.

If that's being contemptuous to his rivals, it's only because they are trying to cope with a true champion. Istabraq only proved the point yesterday.

Limestone Lad almost put scorch marks in the Leopardstown turf to try and run Charlie Swan's mount off his feet and ended up too tired to repel the challenges of Stage Affair and Knife Edge.

Limestone Lad is officially rated just 7lb off Istabraq and finished almost 10 lengths behind, the winner passing the post with a swagger that suggests you can put any number you like before the seven to gauge his superiority. Who'd be a handicapper?

With a horse like Istabraq in his charge Aidan O'Brien certainly isn't volunteering, and he admitted that he had to be very happy with the performance, especially since he considers there's better to come.

"I wouldn't say he's any fitter at this stage than he was last year and we were a bit afraid last year of French Holly in this race. Fairyhouse was just one of those things where we didn't have him fit enough. He won't have another race before Cheltenham," O'Brien said.

Swan ranked yesterday's performance highly and said: "They went a very fast gallop and it rode a very good race. I didn't want to go too soon because I knew Tony (McCoy) was travelling well."

Stage Affair was indeed travelling well in race which was timed at a fast three minutes 53.9 seconds but couldn't cope with Istabraq in the closing stages. Nevertheless, McCoy, who had a disappointing ride on Far Cry at Haydock on Saturday, was impressed with Stage Affair, who could take his chance in the Champion at Cheltenham instead of the Supreme Novices.

"I don't know if I'll be able to but I'd like to keep the ride, and he'll take plenty of beating in whatever race he goes in," said McCoy.

Ladbrokes make Stage Affair their 14 to 1 third favourite for the Champion behind Istabraq and Dato Star (6 to 1), and trainer Dermot Weld reported: "He could run in the Champion because there is a fair bit to come and he'd like better ground. He was a little novicey out there but he just happens to live in the same generation as Istabraq."

Limestone Lad is out to 5 to 1 for the Stayers' Hurdle, but although he finished post race normal, he did suffer a minor overreach to his near fore during the race.

As if Istabraq wasn't enough, O'Brien was also pleased with the performance of Yeoman's Point, who is 8 to 1 for the Triumph but will also be entered in the Supreme Novices and the SunAlliance hurdles where he would receive valuable weight allowances.

In contrast, Florida Pearl had to give a whopping 40lb to Amberleigh House in the BAX Handicap Chase and was all out to do so. The bookmakers weren't impressed but Willie Mullins was determined to look at the positive in the display.

"At least he picked up and battled back because I thought he was going to be passed. Paul (Carberry) said he made a mistake down the back and the horse lost his confidence for a bit, but when he got a kick in the ribs at the third last he jumped much better," Mullins said.

The Hennessy was confirmed as Florida Pearl's next start but he has also been given an entry in Ascot's Shogun Chase in mid-February should he have to miss the Hennessy. "At least he's back to a bit of form and I hope we have no setbacks from now on," Mullins added.

Earlier Carberry had had a much easier time when Frozen Groom made full use of the weight allowances to comfortably win the Baileys Arkle Cup, and Noel Meade's ex-French flat racer is now as low as 7 to 1 for the Cheltenham equivalent.

"I suppose Tom Dreaper would turn in his grave if he saw him because he was a Listed winner on the flat for Criquette Head, but from the first day he schooled he has been brilliant. He loves jumping and is a lot happier for it. The Arkle is the plan but he barely got two miles over hurdles and I suppose he's not ideal for getting up the hill at Cheltenham," Meade said.

Mouse Morris saddled a double, with Swan getting Boss Doyle home in the handicap hurdle and McCoy led on the turn in on Monifeth Man to beat off Kirmar in the novice hurdle.