ISTABRAQ DOWN BUT FAR FROM OUT

There are some things you can depend on in life. Man Utd win the Premiership, you can never find any Panadol when you crawl out of bed on New Years Day, and Istabraq`s jumping is flawless. Well the first two still hold true but the triple champion blotted his record when falling on his belated seasonal debut at Leopardstown.

Charlie Swan accurately described the wet and windy conditions as `diabolical`, and a tiring Istabraq appeared set for one of the minor placings when clipping the top of the final hurdle. Fortunately both horse and rider returned unscathed, and hopefully this is just a temporary blip on the road to a record-breaking fourth title at Cheltenham on March 13.

Ted and Ruby Walsh enjoyed a dream spring in 2000, and they have plenty to look forward to this year after both Rince Ri and Papillon returned in winning form at the Foxrock track. Walsh senior deserves particular credit for producing Rince Ri in top condition to lower the colours of fellow Gold Cup contenders Nick Dundee and Native Upmanship in the Ericsson Chase.

Istabraq`s owner JP McManus is obviously determined to leave the Cheltenham Festival this year with more than the Champion Hurdle trophy. The Geneva based tycoon opened his cheque book in dramatic fashion over the weekend when adding Gold Cup favourite First Gold, and crack young hurdlers Baracouda and Pittsburgh Phil, to his already impressive list of jumpers. First Gold really caught the eye when taking the King George at Kempton in great style, with Florida Pearl returning to something near his best in the runner-up spot.

The weather again took its toll on fixtures this week, with a sudden cold spell ruling out Down Royal on St Stephens Day and playing havoc with the big Leopardstown meeting. The Down Royal card was a late victim of frost, with the axe finally falling on the action just an hour before the scheduled start. The northern track was left with little option after the ground started freezing over again, although it proved a frustrating day for both punters and connections alike with some travelling from as far as Cork in vain.

The best performance by a juvenile hurdler this season came on Tuesday in the Denny 3-Y-O Hurdle where Pittsburgh Phil routed his 12 rivals. The Sadler`s Wells gelding jumped superbly, and powered clear from the home turn to score by ten lengths (value for a lot more).

This was just the first leg of a big race double for trainer Michael O`Brien and jockey Tom Rudd, with Knife Edge (also bought by JP this season) landing the odds in the Denny Gold Medal Novice Chase. The American bred five-year-old has taken well to fences, and is currently quoted a single figure price for the Arkle Chase at Cheltenham. However don`t lose faith just yet in the runner-up, Well Ridden. Arthur Moore`s charge was about to assume a clear advantage after a brilliant leap at the second last only to career into Alcapone, and was brought to a virtual standstill.