Review LEOPARDSTOWN 21ST JAN

Rumours of a midweek setback were shown to be well wide of the mark as the great Istabraq romped to his fourth consecutive AIG Champion Hurdle at a packed Leopardstown.

Kept to the outside throughout by Charlie Swan, the 4/11 favourite (from 1/2) made smooth progress to stalk Moscow Flyer approaching two out.

The leader crashed to the ground at that obstacle, leaving Mantles Prince to keep the favourite company until just after the turn-in, when the latter was finally given the office.

A typically brilliant jump at the last put the issue firmly beyond doubt, and Swan could afford the luxury of a salute to the crowd as the partnership scored by a facile 4 1/2 lengths.

Mantles Prince kept on to take second, with 50/1 shot Penny Rich running a blinder to take third behind the winner, who is now a best-priced 1/2 to capture an unprecedented fourth hurdling crown at Prestbury Park.

'I heard all the rumours, but there was never any truth to them,' said a relieved Aidan O'Brien afterwards. 'They didn't seem to do him any harm - I hope there's a few more before Cheltenham !'

'His preparation had gone fine, and he was the same weight today as on his last run ; he's probably stronger now than he's ever been, and I thought he jumped superbly, particularly at the last.'

And the master trainer had an ominous warning for Istabraq's rivals at the Festival : 'He's got his eye in again, and I would imagine there is a good deal of improvement in him between now and March.'

Well Ridden returned to his best form to see off 1/1 favourite Ross Moff in the opening Baileys Arkle Chase.

Conor O'Dwyer had his mount well-positioned throughout the 2m1f contest and his slick jumping meant that the runner-up, given what some felt was an over-confident ride, was always fighting a losing battle.

'I couldn't ask for more than that,' said successful trainer Arthur Moore. 'I don't know if that was a Cheltenham-standard performance, but the Arkle there is definitely on the agenda,' he continued.

The Gildoran gelding is priced at a general 12/1 for the 2m novice championship at the Festival.

O'Dwyer notched a brace on Big-And-Bold, who looks a horse with a real future after an authoritative sixt-length victory over For Paddy's Day in the 2m4f maiden hurdle.

'This is as nice a horse as I've ever had anything to do with,' said trainer Ger Lyons, 'but he won't be going to Cheltenham, as his owners have some very nice horses, including Skipper's Cleuch, for that meeting.'

'Chasing will be this fellow's game, but he won't go over fences until next season.'

Henry de Bromhead has made a fine start to his training career, and his Feeling Grand got the better of Be Home Early in a good finish to the 2m3f handicap chase.

After seeing the nine year-old stay on best on the run to the line, the handler revealed that entries in the Grand Annual and Mildmay of Flete (Handicap Chases) at Cheltenham are now a distinct possibility.

'I thought Barry (Geraghty) gave him a great ride,' he added.

Geraghty later doubled up aboard Secret Native (7/4f) who arrived late on the scene to collar the well-supported Leaders Way, ridden by the jockey's brother Ross, in the 2m6f handicap hurdle.

Doonaree (1/1-4/5-1/1-4/5f) had to be kept right up to his work in the closing stages to hold the staying-on Forrestfield by 1/2 length in the maiden hurdle, providing Charlie Swan with his second winner of the afternoon.

The Istabraq silks of JP McManus were back in the winner's enclosure following the concluding bumper where Like-A-Butterfly (1/2-2/5-4/9f) made it two wins from two starts in great style.

Christy Roche's charge pulled clear of promising newcomer Florida Coast (carrying the Limestone Lad colours) and should go on to much better things, although as a seven year-old she is not qualified for the Cheltenham bumper.