The Istabraq team have poured cold water on rumours about the triple champion hurdler's well-being, but it hasn't stopped one bookmaker chain suspending betting on Sunday's AIG Europe Champion Hurdle.
Paddy Power suspended their betting on the £100,000 race at 10.45 yesterday morning after reporting persistent support for other runners in the race.
"We've had lots of inquiries and lots of money for Mantles Prince and Stage Affair, so we've suspended betting. We would rather just wait until the final declarations are out tomorrow morning," a Paddy Power spokesman said.
In response to that move, trainer Aidan O'Brien issued an "everything is fine" bulletin about Istabraq, and jockey Charlie Swan added: "I rode him this morning and he seems in great form. I was very happy with him."
Swan schooled Istabraq in the morning, jumping three flights of hurdles on two separate occasions. Later the horse did some work with his stable companions Theatreworld and Kilcash Castle.
Yesterday afternoon, O'Brien visited Leopardstown to examine the ground, which is currently described as "yielding to soft". The trainer was reported to be satisfied with the conditions but it is believed the big race itself could now be moved forward on the card to be run as the first hurdle race of the day.
Currently the AIG is scheduled to be run off at 2.40, with a maiden hurdle and two chases before it. But it's thought the maiden hurdle could be moved to allow Istabraq & Co the best of the fresh ground on the hurdles track.
Meanwhile, the Leopardstown racing manager Tom Burke had another upbeat report about the Dublin track's chances of beating the weather on Sunday.
"We were frost-free overnight. We would have been able to race today and we're pretty confident at the moment. The forecast is for frost tonight and Friday night, but the frost should gradually come out through Saturday and milder weather and rain is set to arrive on Saturday night," he said.
There will be a 2.00 inspection this afternoon to see if tomorrow's scheduled Down Royal card can go ahead. The fixture set for today at the northern course was called off yesterday afternoon due to frost. If tomorrow's card is ruled out, it is proposed to postpone it to Wednesday.
