Swan and Istabraq set out on Champion trail again

One of Irish racing`s most famous partnerships renew their acquaintance in public for the first time in eight months when Charlie Swan teams up with the mighty Istabraq at Leopardstown a week on Saturday.

Swan, 33, has ridden Istabraq in all his 27 starts over hurdles, of which the son of Sadler`s Wells has won 22, including three consecutive victories in the Smurfit Champion Hurdle.

But Istabraq`s chances of an unprecedented fourth Champion Hurdle success last March - he was hot favourite to do so - were thwarted by the intervention of the outbreak of foot and mouth disease.

'Of all the years for it to happen,' reflected Swan. 'If he happens to win it in March they can say he`d have won five - it would be nice to win four.' Now nine-years-old, Istabraq is set to embark on his quest for another hurdlers` crown in the December Festival Hurdle.

Istabraq is also entered in the Pertemps Christmas Hurdle at Kempton on Boxing Day but he is more likely to contest the Leopardstownrace three days later.

His trainer Aidan O`Brien said: 'Although nothing has been decided yet regarding where he will run, Leopardstown remains the more likely plan, as in previous years.

'Istabraq is well and is doing the same sort of exercise that he usually does at this time of year.'

And Swan added: 'It was just a precaution, I think, in case of the weather.'

Istabraq has won the Festival Hurdle three times in the past but not last year.

The 2000 renewal was run in diabolical conditions and Istabraq, who was reported beforehand to be in need of the race, looked booked for second place when falling at the final flight.

'Hopefully, there`ll be no repeat this time,' remarked Swan, who mixes training and riding over hurdles from his County Tipperary base.

'Istabraq - he`s in great form. I got on him just over a week ago and he`s in great form.'

Istabraq raced only three times last season and after winning his fourth AIG Europe Champion Hurdle on his second outing, he once again came a cropper at the last when having the Shell Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown in April at his mercy.

It was a nasty-looking fall and the racing world held its breath before the horse rose to his feet after a few seconds with a relieved Swan remarking at the time that 'he must be made of rubber'.

Swan will be kept busy over the holiday period and he went on: 'It`s business as usual. We have to ride out on Christmas morning and then we go to my parents` for Christmas lunch.'

And he hopes to enjoy the festivities to the full but he said: 'If I had a light one to ride I`d have to watch what I eat but hopefully I won`t have a light one on St Stephen`s Day.

'I`ll have a few runners - a couple at Leopardstown and a couple in Limerick as well. I`ll ride a couple but some of mine are in chases so we`ll have to see who rides those.'

Swan, the nine-times champion Irish jump jockey, quit riding over fences in September 1998 and has no regrets.

He said: 'I don`t really miss riding over fences - only sometimes if there was a nice horse you could have ridden but I`m enjoying what I`m doing.'

Swan made several raids across the Irish Sea last term when he saddled one winner from 10 runners on Britain but has no immediate plans to have any runners over the water at the moment.

But he said: 'If there are some races for our horses, we`d be over for them.'

Whatever the fate of Swan`s runners over the holidays, his ride on Istabraq is the big one and the jockey will be out to prove last season`s uncharacteristic blunders are a thing of the past as the prospect of another Champion Hurdle triumph - he is a best-priced 11-8 chance with the Tote for Cheltenham - looms large in March.