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STAGE HANDED CHAMPION CHANCE

Dermot Weld's top-class novice Stage Affair is to take his chance in the Smurfit Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham on Tuesday.

The Curragh trainer confirmed today that record-breaking champion jockey Tony McCoy will partner the gelding against fellow Irish runner and odds-on favourite Istabraq, winner for the last two years.

"Stage Affair runs in the Smurfit Champion Hurdle rather than the Capel Cure Sharp Supreme Novices' Hurdle as the ground is coming his way and he has had the perfect preparation for Cheltenham," said Weld.

"I fully recognise Istabraq as the best hurdler I have ever seen and we are fully aware of the challenge. But somebody has got to take him on for the championship."

Stage Affair, owned jointly by race sponsor Michael Smurfit and Belfast solicitor Robert Sinclair, was four lentghs runner-up to Istabraq in the AIG Europe Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown.

He completed his Festival preparations with an energetic spin on the Curragh yesterday morning.

"The horse did a sharp, fast school over six flights with Anthony Powell up and we were both delighted with him," added Weld.

Stage Affair is 12-1 with William Hill for the #250,000 showpiece on the opening day of the Festival.