PIISSSTT! DID YOU HEAR THE NEWS ABOUT ISTABRAQ?

Rumour and the racing fraternity have always been comfortable bedfellows, but the whisper merchants have gone into overdrive as Istabraq bids for a record fourth Smurfit Champion Hurdle, writes Alan Magee.

`Istabraq has arthritis`. `The champion is over the hill`. `He`s got a leg injury`. When Aidan O`Brien scotches these rumours, then `the word` is that Ned Kelly won`t take him on because of the close ties between the McManus and Magnier clans.

Like most rumours, there is probably different levels of reality behind the smoke-screen. Fact and fiction have been hard to separate, especially with the latest news that `Ned` will miss the big race as he didn`t scope clean after a workout this weekend.

It is common knowledge that the Edward O`Grady stable has been under a cloud in recent weeks, with a number of his runners disappointing due to `dirty noses`. Of course the conspiracy theorists will have a field day, but facts are the currency of journalism (or so I was taught at allthose evening classes!) Anything worth achieving in life is not easily gained, and J P knows that champions are crowned because they take on and beat the best. I just can`t believe that he would want a record fourth title tainted by sideswipes.

The facts are that Istabraq has only raced once this season, and needs to step up considerably on that Leopardstown winning form to score at Cheltenham. Why has he raced only once this term? Because his trainer decided that preparation gave him the best chance of a fourth title. O`Brien was quoted as saying this week that `it will take a miracle for Istabraq to win`. Maybe it will, but the facilities at Ballydoyle are second to none and the Sadler`s Wells gelding could not be in safer hands to achieve such a feat.

Will he win? Well isn`t that what the great uncertainty of racing is all about, and we will get the answer on Tuesday afternoon. To my mind the current odds of 2/1 seem more than fair.

On the subject of Cheltenham, I may as well make a complete fool of myself and give my thoughts on the likely winners and losers. The Gold Cup has rightly been hyped as the highlight of the meeting, with many strong contenders for National Hunt racing`s `blue riband`.

Looks Like Trouble has history and dodgy tendons to overcome. Best Mate and Florida Pearl won`t stay. I don`t think Shooting Light, Marlborough and Behrajan are good enough. Bacchanal was my fancy until showing a definite tendency to jump right last time at Newbury. Sackville seems to have lost his way, and See More Business needs to have his own way.

That leaves us with some each-way possibles like Lord Noelie and Commanche Court on good ground, along with Alexander Banquet (soft) and Foxchapel King. Three out of those four are Irish-trained, but beware as Imperial Call is our only winner since Dawn Run 1986. The conclusion to draw is sit back, enjoy and keep your stakes small!

The Queen Mother Champion Chase depends on the ground, with Flagship Uberalles strongly recommended if there is some cut. Tiutchev really impressed me last time, but his recent bout of colic is a big worry. I can`t see an Irish win here.

In brief, my other fancies at the meeting are Moscow Flyer in the Arkle Trophy, Valley Henry (Royal & SunAlliance Chase), Ross Moff and Mr Baxter Basics in the Mildmay of Flete, Bannow Bay and Brother Joe (Stayers Hurdle). There is also `strong word` on the grapevine (a.k.a our old friends the racecourse whisper merchants) for the Christy Roche-trained handicap hurdlers Yeoman`s Point (Coral Eurobet Cup) and Calladine (Pertemps Final). I`ll probably be still scraping the egg off my face on St Patrick`s Day!

The ongoing saga that is `Punchestown Racecourse` finally took a turn for the better during the week with news that three heavyweights of Irish racing will join the board of the troubled Co. Kildare track. The appointment of Denis Brosnan, Michael Osborne and Brian Kavanagh is certainly a positive move as the countdown to the big Festival meeting rings ever louder.

Sponsors have understandably become nervous at the board-room infighting, and hopefully sense can now prevail as the racing industry, not to mention Punchestown itself, is so financially dependant on a successful Festival meeting at the end of April.

The domestic action this week was of a modest pre-Cheltenham nature, although Downpatrick played host to it`s yearly highlight on Wednesday - the Powers Ulster National. Victory went to the Mark Madden-ridden Back In Thyne, whose trainer Enda Bolger also saddled Wap to take the hunter chase at Tramore on Thursday. The latter win was notable as it marked champion point-to-point jockey John Thomas McNamara losing his claim under rules.

The weather continues to take it`s toll, and Saturday`s Navan card was reduced to five races (from eight) as the chase course was deemed unraceable after further heavy rain. David Casey made a welcome return to action from a hand injury when takingthe opener aboard Starry Lady.

Fairyhouse manager Dick Sheil was in touch during the week to clarify the track`s position regarding the abandonment of their recent meeting, which my colleague Vincent Finegan commented on in his review (see Tote Jackpot at Leopardstown).

`We had over two inches of rain in the previous seven days, and informed the Turf Club on the Wednesday that there may be a problem with the Saturday meeting. On Thursday Turf Club officials inspected the course, and deemed it unraceable,` said Sheil.

He added, `The track was unraceable on the Saturday despite several dry days, and the chase track was still unraceable on Sunday. We will have four strips of fresh ground for the Easter Festival meeting.`

Alan Magee