Istabraq looked every inch a champion hurdler as he repeated last year's victory in the John James McManus Memorial Hurdle, transferred to Cork today.

On his toes in the preliminaries, the 2 to 7 chance, ridden by Charlie Swan, cruised to the front two out from the front-running Lady Daisy and was never going to be caught.

Although the lone British raider Master Beveled quickly went past tiring rivals after the second last, he never got in a blow at the winner, who jumped the last in style and won hard-held by four lengths.

Because of the very soft ground, the third-last hurdle was omitted, leaving a long run to the second last, before which Swan decided to take control.

Swan believes Istabraq is better than ever. "He feels stronger since he came back in," he said.

Trainer Aidan O'Brien, in Kentucky for the Breeders' Cup, was represented by his wife Annemarie, who said: "Aidan told me just to ring him with the result.

"He has left something to work on with Istabraq who will be going more or less the same road to Cheltenham as last season."

The Hatton's Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse at the end of the month is next on the agenda for Istabraq, who earned £38,850 for what proved little more than an exercise gallop.

Imperial Call, the winner of the 1996 Cheltenham Gold Cup, failed to concede two stone to Anabatic in what developed into a keen dual for the City Life Grand National Handicap Chase.

Starting at 1 to 3 to follow-up his comeback win at Limerick, Imperial Call was made to pay dearly for a couple of mistakes in the final mile as he went under by a neck to the Michael O'Brien-trained winner.

"I have no excuses because of the ground. He just felt like an ordinary horse today," reported Imperial Call's jockey Conor O'Dwyer.