LOI BIDS TO STAKE CHAMPION CLAIM Hors La Loi III will bid to get back on track for another tilt at the Smurfit Champion Hurdle next Saturday. The James Fanshawe-trained six-year-old, runner-up to Istabraq in the big race at Cheltenham last March, has been pencilled in for the Agfa Hurdle at Sandown. Paul Green`s gelding has not raced since he was pulled up at Cheltenham on his reappearance last December and has missed several recent possible comeback races, including the AIG Europe Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown. But the owner`s retained jockey Dean Gallagher revealed: 'He should run next Saturday in the Agfa Hurdle at Sandown, that`s the plan. 'Hopefully we will have a dry week as the better the ground the better it is for him. 'James is happy with him but whatever he does he will improve as he hasn`t run for while. The main race is the Cheltenham race.' Gallagher hopes that Hors La Loi III will be able to make up the four lengths by which he went down to the reigning champion last year.'He is only six and has improvement in him,' he said. 'Istabraq may be the best in Europe if not the world but he doesn`t have any improvement on what we have already seen.' Hors La Loi III is quoted at 16-1 for the Champion Hurdle by Ladbrokes.
