Istabraq could end up facing just domestic competition in Sunday's £50,000 AIG Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown.
Five English-trained horses remain in the race at the moment, but David Nicholson's pair, Sanmartino and L'Opera, are set to stay at home, while the 1996 AIG winner, Collier Bay, and Shadow Leader have the Champion Hurdle Trial at Haydock on Saturday as a preferred option.
Aidan O'Brien yesterday reported Istabraq ready to defend his place at the top of the Champion Hurdle market, and said: "The horse is working well. The number of runners at Leopardstown will make no difference to him." O'Brien also intends running the Ladbroke disappointment, Theatreworld, in the race.
The 1997 winner, Cockney Lad, will again take his chance, and trainer Noel Meade said: "We gave him a break after his run at Christmas and he worked well on Saturday."
Other intended runners include the Ladbroke runner-up, Notcomplainingbut, and the exciting novice, His Song, but Ted Walsh will not decide until Friday if Commanche Court takes his chance. "If I'm happy with him, he'll run and Norman Williamson will ride," Walsh said.
In other news, Wither Or Which, the 1996 Cheltenham Bumper winner, is likely to miss the festival for the second year running after pulling muscles in his hind-quarters.
Trainer Willie Mullins said yesterday: "Unless miracles happen, he won't have enough of a preparation for Cheltenham. It's just bad timing and nothing to do with his old injury. I was hoping to run him next weekend or at Gowran, but that's out now."
Arthur Moore plans to give Klairon Davis his next race in a £10,000 two mile handicap chase at Fairyhouse on January 31st. Moore hit the bookmakers for the second weekend running when saddling Jeffell to land the Victor Chandler Handicap Chase at Ascot on Saturday. A week after Graphic Equaliser landed a spectacular gamble to win the Ladbroke, Moore produced his grey to pip Celibate for the £20,000 first prize.
Having also scooped the William Hill Handicap Hurdle with Major Jamie and Graphic Equaliser targeted at the Tote Gold Trophy, the Naas trainer is proving a major thorn in the bookmakers' side.
The grey Jeffell was pulled up on an earlier visit to Ascot this season. But he has since finished second to Dorans Pride and a big run was anticipated as his odds fell from 12 to 1 to 13-2 to in the week.
So it proved, as Jeffell duelled with Celibate and produced the better jump at the last to win by length and a quarter, with 4 to 1 favourite Or Royal third despite a poor round of jumping.
Bookmakers gave Jeffell a tentative 20 to 1 quote for the Queen Mother Champion Chase. But Moore who will be represented by former champion Klairon Davis, virtually ruled out a challenge.
"He's not up to that. He's 20lb behind those horses and he was at his maximum today. If he was to go to the Festival it would be for the Cathcart," he said.
"If the occasion doesn't get to him, he's a good horse and ran to his Punchestown form with Celibate. Cheltenham might not be the place for him and maybe he will go to Liverpool."
Moore has a 16 to 1 voucher about Graphic Equaliser, the 100 to 30 favourite for the Tote Gold Trophy. Strong opposition failed to emerge at Ascot from the Teal and Green Handicap Hurdle, won from the front by Nipper Reed.
The Rod Simpson-trained runner had two and a half lengths to spare from Cadougold, who is now a top-priced 16 to 1 for the Newbury handicap.
Bellator finished in sixth place to remain a 9 to 1 third favourite with the sponsors.
