Racing: Istabraq waits for Smurfit Champion Hurdle

Istabraq may not run again until bidding for an unprecedented fourth Smurfit Champion Hurdle victory, his trainer Aidan O’Brien has revealed.

He outlined the plan after the nine year old returned to winning form in the Tote December Festival Hurdle at Leopardstown.

He said: ‘‘The odds are that we won’t be going for the AIG Europe Champion Hurdle here next month.

"We will try to keep the miles off the clock as he’s getting older and he might be around a bit longer because of that."Istabraq remains a best priced 13 8 with Coral for the hurdlers’ crown at Cheltenham on March 12.

The son of Sadler’s Wells came last season and took a particularly heavy fall on his last public appearance in the Shell Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown in April.

But there was no mistake as the 4-11 chance led after the last to get the better of Bust Out by just a head. But Istabraq stayed clear of the trouble and despite stepping at the third last never gave his legions of supporters much to worry about.

Istabraq has now won 23 of his 28 starts over hurdles and has been ridden by Swan on every occasion.