Marble Arch supported for Champion bid

Impressive Ascot winner Marble Arch was today cut to 22-1 from 33-1 for the Smurfit Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham.

Coral bookmakers slashed the price after the Hughie Morrison-trained six- year-old was the subject of decent support today.

Spokesman David Stevens said: 'Following Istabraq`s narrow win at the weekend, it seems punters are willing to take on the reigning champion and, as a result, are looking at the bigger priced challengers.'

Marble Arch was a 7-1 chance when providing Morrison with the biggest success of his career when winning the Ladbroke Handicap Hurdle under Norman Williamson on December 22.

The race will be remembered by many for scuppering champion jockey Tony McCoy`s bid to go through the card at Ascot that day.

His mount, the well-backed favourite Westender, from the Martin Pipe stable, finished only eighth that day.

McCoy had won the previous three races on the card with Tarxien, Wahiba Sands and Shooting Light and, after the Marble Arch victory, won the remaining two with Seebald and Alvino to rattle up a near 127-1 five-timer.

Triple champion hurdler Istabraq, from the Aidan O`Brien stable, made a winning seasonal reappearance on Saturday at Leopardstown _ the course where he twice fell last season.

He scored in the Tote December Festival Hurdle but won by only a head in what was seen as a workmanlike performance.

Istabraq`s bid for a fourth consecutive Champion Hurdle title was foiled when last year`s Festival was abandoned because of foot and mouth.

Smurfit Champion Hurdle:

Coral betting: 13-8 Istabraq, 7-2 Valiramix, 9-2 Landing Light, 14-1 Jair Du Cochet, Bilboa, Arctic Owl, 16-1 Ned Kelly, 20-1 Azertyuiop, Ansar, Geos, 22-1 Marble Arch (from 33-1), 25-1 Hors La Loi III, Westender, 33-1 bar.