Racing: Tendon injury for Istabraq

Three-time Smurfit Champion Hurdle winner Istabraq suffered a tendon injury when attempting a record fourth success in the Cheltenham contest on Tuesday, it emerged today.

Jockey Charlie Swan felt uneasy on the Aidan O’Brien-trained gelding after he had jumped just one flight and after taking the second hurdle decided to pull the 2-1 favourite up.