Champion Hurdle favourite Istabraq winning at Tipperary
Champion Hurdle favourite Istabraq winning at Tipperary
The rain continues to fall and race meetings continue to fall victim to it but anticipation is heightening of a great Cheltenham '98 for Irish horses. Since Christmas, the racing on both sides of the Irish Sea has been thrilling and informative: The King George at Kempton saw See More Business slam most of the English Gold Cup hopes and on a line through Rough Quest he also holds The Grey Monk. Now let your mind slip back to Leopardstown last February when Dorans Pride dismissed See More Business by a comfortable 6 lengths. If we forgive Dorans Pride his off day at Naas he looks exceptional value at 7-1 for the March 19th showpiece. I expect him to prove himself against Imperial Call, Danoli and whoever else turns up at Leopardstown this February for the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup. And could Charlie Swan be reunited with Danoli?
St.Patricks Day this year coincides with Champion Hurdle day and Istabraq is expected to make it a memorable day for the Irish. He has proven he is effective on fast and soft ground and should hold too many guns for the opposition. This Sadlers Wells 3/4-brother to Derby winner Secreto is trained at Ballydoyle alongside Aidan O'Briens Group 1 winners and is considered streets ahead of Theatreworld by connections, who finished runner-up in last years renewal. With doubts over all the English challengers, the 5-1 still available (significantly only 9-2 across the water) looks very enticing.
With a whole host of Irish novices such as Foxchapel King, Dardjini and Florida Pearl along with Rainbow Frontier, Lucky Town and Elegant Lord, who returns from injury, it promises to be a record breaking year for the Irish Horses at Cheltenham. Rainbow Frontier's stable companion, Code Of Honour, may yet turn out to be our main Triumph hurdle candidate and Lucky Town representing the Bolger/McManus team should be followed on the hunter chase circuit (beginning on Sunday January 18th at Fairyhouse) en route to a crack at the 4 mile National Hunt Chase.
In the weeks ahead two horses which rate as certainties to pick up maiden hurdles are Dudley Do Right (beaten 2 sh hds on his two most recent runs)-"the best maiden in the country" and Doran's Pride's 1/2-brother Scarvagh again beaten a sh hd on his most recent run. With King Of Kings reportedly over his knee surgery and still nothing to get him off the bridle at Ballydoyle, 12-1 looks a viable alternative to Xaar for the 2000Gns. Good Luck.
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