Horse Racing: Ned Kelly can challenge Istabraq, say bookies

Ned Kelly's runaway AIG Europe Champion Hurdle victory at Leopardstown has seen him emerge as a true rival for Istabraq in this year's Smurfit Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

With Istabraq, the winner of the past four renewals of the race, being kept for the Smurfit Champion Hurdle Cheltenham in March, the Irish contest had a more open look to it than usual.

But Ned Kelly was a most impressive winner under Norman Williamson, leading bookmakers Paddy Power to cut him from 14-1 to 11-2 to seize Istabraq’s crown at the Festival.

Istabraq, who will be bidding for his fourth win in the hurdling showpiece, remains favourite but is out to 2-1.

His supporters must be worried after seeing Ned Kelly toy with his rivals in the Euro130,000 race.

Liss A Paoraigh was sent into the lead at the halfway stage by Charlie Swan but was stalked around the home turn by British raider Geos and by Ned Kelly, who travelled well throughout under Norman Williamson.

As the trio entered the home straight, they had the race between them but it was 11-8 favourite Ned Kelly who showed an impressive turn of foot to hit the front and score by five lengths from Liss A Paoraigh.

Geos weakened dramatically in the very testing conditions to finish sixth with The French Furze doing best of the three British challengers, staying on for third place a further two lengths back with Milligan fourth.

Ned Kelly is now likely to go to Cheltenham without another outing.

Trainer Edward O’Grady said: ‘‘He has restored my confidence in him, he did everything I wanted him to.

‘‘Norman said that when Mick Fitzgerald gave Geos a smack two out this fellow just came alive.

‘‘I would have preferred better ground today as a faster surface gives him a chance to show his class.

‘‘He could run in the Red Mills Hurdle (at Gowran Park next month) but I think it’s more likely that he will go straight there.’’

On his previous start at Fairyhouse in December, Ned Kelly had finished the race with a nosebleed but O’Grady explained: ‘‘The vet said he had a nosebleed and he had a slight lung infection.

‘‘We treated him for that and he’s never shown any sign of bleeding before or since.’’

The inevitable question being asked afterwards was whether Ned Kelly can now wrest the title of being Europe’s best hurdler away from Istabraq.

‘‘We all know what Istabraq can do and after what happened last year he deserves to win another Champion Hurdle,’’ said Williamson.

‘‘But this is a good horse I thought so before today and I think it even more now.’’