RACING: The cross-channel challenge for Sunday's AIG Europe Champion Hurdle has taken a blow with reports that Intersky Falcon will not be travelling to Leopardstown.
The Jonjo O'Neill-trained star has been ruled out of the Grade One contest as have O'Neill's other top hurdlers, Rhinestone Cowboy and Specular.
With the current champion Rooster Booster likely to run in Newbury's Tote Gold Trophy it leaves potential raiders for the Irish championship thin on the ground with only the Noel Chance-trained Flame Creek currently committed to an AIG appearance.
Paul Nicholls has both Rigmarole and Sporazene among the entries but the picture will become more clear after today's forfeit stage at which the home team is likely to headed by Spirit Leader who is as low as 10 to 1 for Cheltenham with Paddy Power.
The County Hurdle winner will be re-opposed by Golden Cross, the shock 66 to 1 winner of the Christmas Hurdle over the course and distance last month.
Sacundai is still among the AIG entries but Edward O'Grady's star stayer is a more likely starter in Thursday's Grade Three Galmoy Hurdle at Gowran Park.
The feature at the Co Kilkenny track is the Thyestes Chase where the former Hennessy winner Alexander Banquet could take his chance under topweight of 12st.
That would leave a 13lb gap to the next horse in the handicap, Takagi.
Hasanpour has been all the rage for the JCB Triumph Hurdle after his impressive debut success at Cork yesterday afternoon.
Twice a winner, but lightly-raced on the Flat when with Michael Stoute, the four-year-old Dr Devious gelding is now with Charlie Swan and runs in the same colours as last year's Triumph hero, Spectrometer.
Leading British bookmakers William Hill now go 16 to 1 from 25s for Cheltenham, with Ladbrokes cutting him to 14 to 1 from 20s.
"Hasanpour looks set to repeat Spectrometer's feat for the Smiths in the Triumph last year," said Ladbrokes spokesman Balthazar Fabricius.
Tony McCoy reached a major landmark in his glittering career when Magical Bailiwick became a 2,000th success in Britain for the eight-times champion jockey at Wincanton on Saturday.
