There can be only one choice: Istabraq

The champion and the pretender. That's how tomorrow's AIG Irish Champion Hurdle has been billed as Istabraq's position at the top of the hurdling tree is challenged by French Holly.

The bookmakers believe these two are the outstanding hurdlers in these islands and, as things stand, it's impossible to disagree with them. Istabraq and French Holly dominate the Cheltenham ante-post market, but it's worth betting that by 3.0 p.m. tomorrow the old order will still be securely in place.

Istabraq has looked an outstanding hurdler for the last two seasons: beaten only twice, awesome at Cheltenham last March and already an AIG winner. The argument against him, however, is that he has looked awesome against comparatively weak opposition. French Holly, the argument continues, is the first horse he has come up against that has the capability to find flaws in his armoury.

In that regard a perfect Anglo-Irish rivalry is being generated, even though French Holly is trained and ridden by Irishmen Ferdy Murphy and Adrian Maguire.

Murphy was yesterday confident that his giant-framed Sun Alliance and Christmas Hurdle winner would put it up to Istabraq.

"We knew we were going into the lion's mouth when we decided on this race, but the horse is extremely well. In fact he is a bit more forward than we thought. Istabraq will be hard to beat, but I don't think he will be on the bridle going to the last. If he does, then he will probably win at Cheltenham too," Murphy said.

French Holly has been backed this week to do more than just get Istabraq off the bridle, money that was encouraged by bookmaker unease about Istabraq's well-being.

Aidan O'Brien has scotched those rumours and is continuing to train Istabraq to peak at Cheltenham. The horse may not be at an absolute peak yet, but confidence is still high that Istabraq can take this again on route.

"Ideally I would probably like to have done a bit more with him, especially with French Holly coming over, and he will improve for the run. But he is ticking over nicely," O'Brien said.

Of the others, O'Brien's dual-Champion Hurdle runner up Theatreworld looks sure to run prominently, but David Nicholson's raider Zafarabad, so impressive last season, has been relatively disappointing so far this term and is probably best watched for the moment.

Between the big two, however, there can be only one choice. One bookmaker quotes Istabraq at only 6 to 4 to win tomorrow and also at Cheltenham. Hardly generous, but the champion should get the first leg out of the way with his usual ruthless efficiency.

The main supporting act on the card is likely to be His Song in the Baileys Arkle Cup.

Mouse Morris' strapping young horse picked up some cuts while winning here at Christmas, but that was the only blemish on a faultless performance that saw Native Estates put firmly in his place by eight lengths. That Sun Alliance Chase hope has since franked the form impressively, and although His Song has to give weight away, it will be disappointing with Cheltenham in mind if he isn't up to it.

An interesting opponent is Advocat, who makes his chasing debut after being a disappointing favourite for the Ladbroke Hurdle. "He has been schooling well, but as in the Ladbroke, sticky ground wouldn't suit," said trainer Noel Meade, who also runs the veteran former AIG winner Cockney Lad also.

Meade has an interesting newcomer in the Waterford Crystal Novice Hurdle. Oa Baldixie was a Group 3 winner in France last year and also had very good form with the likes of Fragrant Mix. "He has never been away to school over hurdles so he will learn a lot," Meade said.

If Oa Baldixie translates his flat form over hurdles, then the others may as well stay at home. But it's rarely as easy as that and this is a pretty hot contest to start off in. The proven racecourse form of Arthur Moore's Star Service could be a better value option.

With Richard Dunwoody injured, Norman Williamson has come in for the ride on Oa Baldixie, but he also has a couple of other reasonable prospects on the card.

Nibalda beat all but the gambled-on Shannon Gale over three miles here at Christmas, and a host of other good placed efforts make him the selection in the opener, while Williamson could also be on the mark with Rocketts Castle in the handicap chase, the opening contest in a jackpot boosted by a £28,000 carryover.