Jockey Tony McCoy was left devastated today by the death of Valiramix following the Smurfit Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham.

Support for Istabraq’s historic tilt at a fourth Smurfit Champion Hurdle crown appears to be gathering momentum.

Istabraq has been a constant drifter in the ante-post exchanges on the Smurfit Champion Hurdle in recent weeks but that may be about to change.