The Champion Hurdler Istabraq delighted Charlie Swan in a schooling session yesterday and the partnership are set for their first race of the season - should Tipperary on Saturday get the go-ahead.
Aidan O'Brien later confirmed that Istabraq will follow a similar route to Cheltenham as last season, starting with the John James McManus Memorial Hurdle.
"He jumped great this morning and he seems very well in himself. He may even be a bit stronger again this season," said Swan, who added that the J P McManus owned six-year-old will improve for Saturday's race.
"He is not fully fit yet and will definitely need the run, but I hope he will be fit enough. The ground will probably be very heavy but he seems to go on any ground," Swan said.
With the poor weather forecast, however, doubts were growing yesterday about whether the meeting will go ahead. The Turf Club inspector of courses plans to examine the Tipperary track today.
Timahs, supplemented for the Racing Post Trophy at a cost of £15,000, has been well-backed at 6 to 1 to recoup that outlay in the last Group One race of the season. Despite the uncertainty over his participation, Bienamado attracted solid backing at 7 to 2.
Racing Post Trophy (betting): 9-4 Commander Collins, 7-2 Bienamado, 5-1 Timahs (from 6-1), Tchaikovsky, 11-2 Coliseum, 10-1 Tumbleweed Quartet, 14-1 Rhapsodist, Magno, 16-1 Desaru (from 14-1), Gudlage, Festival Hall, 33-1 Cupid, Housemaster, 50-1 Stormy Skye, 66-1 The Exhibition Fox.
