Aidan O'Brien gave a strong indication yesterday that the champion hurdler Istabraq will have his next race at Liverpool.
Istabraq was beaten for only the second time in his career in last year's Martell Aintree Hurdle, but O'Brien said yesterday: "There is a strong possibility that Istabraq will run at Aintree. He has been very well since Cheltenham."
That could set up a fascinating clash with the highly-rated English novice, Barton, who was a very impressive winner of the Royal & SunAlliance Hurdle at Cheltenham last week.
Istabraq was beaten a head by Pridwell, who has been especially prepared for a repeat, at Liverpool last season in an epic finish to the two and a half mile contest, but O'Brien said he was not worried about last year's experience or the increase in distance.
Immediately after last week's Champion Hurdle, Istabraq's owner JP McManus seemed to favour waiting for the the Shell Champion Hurdle at the Punchestown festival at the end of April.
The Curragh expects to have a Jackpot pool of £50,000 this Sunday due to a carry over of £17,160 from the last meeting of 1998. In the featured Irish Lincoln, Jimmy Quinn has been booked to ride the former Henry Cecil-trained Monitor for Ger Lyons.
"Jimmy recommended that I should buy the horse last year," said Lyons yesterday. "I've also booked Johnny Murtagh for Besiege and I will also run Rainswept." Quinn won the Irish Lincoln on Bolino Star three years ago.
There is a Jackpot carry over of £3,657 at Clonmel this afternoon when most interest will centre on the reappearance of Johnny Brushaside in the Bank Of Ireland Novice Chase.
Noel Meade's horse looked a fine novice prospect when scoring at Tralee last August but then gave best to Moscow Express at Listowel and hasn't been seen since beaten by Foxchapel King at Thurles in October.
Lockbeg Lass and An Modh Direach will be capable of picking up on any lapses but Johnny Brushaside is difficult to oppose.
Another horse returning from a layoff is Over The Furze, who hasn't been seen out since finishing third to Native Dara and Mary's Manna at Thurles in November. That was a good effort and a repeat of that run could suffice against Wyn Wan Soon. In contrast, Mariners Reef has been typically busy and typically has been making her presence felt. No more so than 11 days ago when giving the warm favourite, Gentle Mossy, a two and a half length beating at Naas.
Derek McCullagh's mount goes in another handicap today and looks the value against Really Chuffed, and the Ladbroke disappointment, Gan Saru.
Considering his debut second to Aonfocaleile at Fairyhouse, The Brack Man's subsequent effort behind Golfeur was a trifle disappointing. Starting favourite, he wound up only fourth after making little impression in the final furlong. The extra quarter mile in today's bumper could make a difference, however. Shay Barry, who won his first Cheltenham festival race on Space Trucker in the Grand Annual last week, can keep up his good form with Master Of Illusion in the long distance conditions hurdle.
