Istabraq was a brilliant winner of his second successive Smurfit Champion Hurdle yesterday and is now as low as 5 to 4 to make it three in a row next year.
As a 4 to 9 favourite yesterday, Istabraq was expected to do just as he did. However, in a sport where expectations are so routinely dashed, what Istabraq did yesterday is something to be cherished. He confirmed himself as a truly great champion.
Brilliance can be fleeting but sporting greatness demands consistency and remarkably Istabraq looks like he has only just begun. "He must be up there with the best ever. He's the best I've ever seen, never mind ridden," said Charlie Swan who pleaded youth when asked to make comparisons with Monksfield, Night Nurse and other hurdling giants of the past.
Such comparisons are usually fatuous but there is no doubt that Istabraq is something special, a fact that owner JP McManus was first to acknowledge. "I went down to Ballydoyle recently and I had a peep at Istabraq who was having a snooze in his box. Aidan (O'Brien) wouldn't disturb him and we had to wait until Istabraq was ready to see us. That shows you who's boss at Ballydoyle!" McManus grinned.
And yesterday there was only one boss. Istabraq got a little sweaty in the parade ring, a lot more sweaty at the start and then proceeded to leave the opposition with only a distant whiff of that sweat.
Off a less than shattering early pace Swan took the sensible route down the outside as City Hall and Midnight Legend cut out the early pace. At the top of the hill the giant English hope French Holly made his move but not for one moment did Istabraq look to not have it covered. Taking the initiative at the second last, Istabraq powered round the final bend and the race was over.
O'Brien's second string Theatreworld had been last early on but struggled on to such purpose that he filled the runner up spot for a remarkable third year in succession. French Holly stayed on for third and the other Irish runner Nomadic finished an honourable fifth.
Asked to describe the feeling on clearing the last, Swan simply said: "bliss." Asked had he been worried about the highly strung Istabraq sweating up, McManus replied: "I would have been more worried if he hadn't! All being well he might be back next year for another go."
Aidan O'Brien may not be quite so sound-bite friendly but his satisfaction was just as great. Questioned as to why Istabraq had not put in a 12-length demolition like 1998 he said: "Charlie didn't have to go to the bottom of the barrel as much as last year and the horse didn't like the tacky ground. Also Istabraq needs a really good pace." The suspicion that a Champion Hurdle field couldn't go quickly enough for Istabraq to be seen at his best gives any future opposition scant hope although French Holly's trainer Ferdy Murphy was clinging to hope. "I don't think Istabraq was quite as good as last year when he spread-eagled them all, these others were a lot closer today. But he'll be around for a bit yet, that's for sure," he said.
Which is good news for us and for connections. "Istabraq is so much part of my life and my family's life and my friends lives that just about everything we do revolves around him, even to the extent of planning holidays around his races," smiled McManus admiringly.
It was an admiration shared by everyone at Cheltenham yesterday. An admiration that only the greats can provoke.
The Result
3.15 Smurfit Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy (Grade 1) £138,000. 2m 110yds.
Istabraq (b g Sadler's Wells - Betty's Secret) (J P McManus) 7,12- 0 C F Swan (4/9 fav) 1
Theatreworld (b g Sadler's Wells Chamonis) 7, 12-0 T P Treacy (16/1)2
French Holly (b g Sir Ivor - Sans Dot) 8,120 A Thornton (11/2)3
Also: 16/1 Lady Cricket, 33/1 Blowing Wind (bd), 33/1 City Hall, 33/1 Grey Shot, 40/1 Tiutchev (6), 40/1 Zafarabad (fell), 50/1 Bellator, 50/1 Midnight Legend, 50/1 Nomadic (5), 66/1 Upgrade, 100/1 Mister Morose (4). 14 ran. 31/2l, 21/2l, 1l, 11/4l, 2l. (A O'Brien). Tote: £1.50; £1.20, £2.50, £1.80. DF: £7.50. CSF: £7.42. Tricast: £22.08. Trifecta: ú31.90.
