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Istabraq: three-time Champion Hurdle winner

Hurdling great Istabraq, the triple Champion Hurdle winner, dies aged 32

By Ashley Iveson

15:28 · THU July 25, 2024

Aidan O’Brien hailed Istabraq “the horse of a lifetime” after the brilliant hurdler died on Thursday morning at the age of 32.

A dual winner from 11 starts on the Flat for John Gosden, the son of Sadler’s Wells went on to become one of the most popular National Hunt horses of the modern era.

In all, Istabraq won 23 of his 29 races over obstacles for leading owner JP McManus under jockey Charlie Swan, most famously becoming the fifth horse to win three Champion Hurdles at the Cheltenham Festival in 2000.

He also won the 1997 Royal and SunAlliance Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham, as well as four Irish Champion Hurdles, two Hatton’s Grace Hurdles and an Aintree Hurdle over the course of his glittering career.

O’Brien told the PA news agency: “Istabraq was obviously the horse of a lifetime for us, one of those very rare horses that only come along once.

“He was very lucky to be owned by JP and Noreen (McManus) and ridden by Charlie – and a lot of people looked after him. Tommy Murphy was the assistant at Ballydoyle before we came and then he stayed on with us and he did a lot of work with him.

“He was a great horse for us and a big part of our family. When the little ones (children) were small, he would have been right at the height of his powers, so for everyone he was a massive part of our lives at that time.”

The remarkable Istabraq story began in earnest after he was snapped up by Timmy Hyde on behalf of McManus for 38,000 guineas in the summer of 1996, coincidentally the same year as a fresh-faced O’Brien moved into the legendary Ballydoyle stables.

Istabraq was bought on the recommendation of John Durkan, who knew him better than most, having been Gosden’s assistant, and was due to train him for his jumping career.

Sadly, Durkan was later diagnosed with leukaemia and O’Brien was entrusted to train the gelding in his absence. Durkan died just days before Istabraq won his first Irish Champion Hurdle in January 1998.

“We were just moving to Ballydoyle and JP bought Istabraq for John Durkan to train. John gave him to Timmy Hyde and when he had him ready, he sent him to Ballydoyle. We were supposed to have him for a year while John was having treatment for leukaemia and unfortunately John passed away,” said O’Brien.

“He was an incredible horse really. I suppose what made him unusual is that he was trained on the Flat before he came to us, so he had the mind of a Flat horse and was full of nervous energy, but he had a lot of ability and an unbelievable cruise.

“He was an incredible jumper, I think that’s what made him very different. Charlie always said he used to take off two strides before any other horse and landed on his back legs, which is very unusual as that meant he got away from his hurdles much quicker.

“I suppose the one that stuck out for us really was his first Champion Hurdle. That was his first time dropping back to two miles in a Champion Hurdle, but every one of his wins was very special.”

Istabraq’s racing days came to an end after being pulled up in his bid for a fourth Champion Hurdle success at Cheltenham in 2002 and he went on to enjoy a long and happy retirement at McManus’ Martinstown Stud in County Limerick, celebrating his 32nd birthday in May.

In a statement issued on Thursday, McManus said: “Sadly, Istabraq passed away at 1.15am this morning at the ripe old age of 32. He was a very special horse who gave us many great days of fun and enjoyment.

“Our thanks to Lara Hegarty, Johnny O’Brien and all the staff at Martinstown who took such fantastic care of him over many years.

“We are pleased that we gave him a good celebration for his most recent birthday in May. He leaves Noreen, myself and the family with wonderful memories.”

Swan was ever-present in the saddle aboard Istabraq during his jumping career and has fond memories of the hurdling great.

He said: “It’s a sad day, but I suppose he had a great innings; he was 32, and he was looked after like a king at Martinstown, as he deserved.

“I had some great days and I suppose winning the third Champion Hurdle is the one that sticks out. It hadn’t been done many times and that was a special day.

“His jumping was so good – he was so quick to get his front legs out and was very accurate.

“He obviously had loads of speed but he stayed well and jumped – he had everything really. And you could ride him any way you wanted.”

THE GREATEST HURDLER EVER? ISTABRAQ'S FOUR CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL WINS

Istabraq unquestionably one of the all-time NH heroes

By Molly Hunter, PA

Istabraq was a National Hunt racing icon, a horse universally loved and admired across the sport for his consistency, durability and pure talent.

A son of Sadler’s Wells out of a Secretariat mare, the bay was bred by Shadwell and started life on the Flat under the care of John Gosden.

His career on the level was not without success and yielded two wins from 11 starts, but it was when he turned his hand to hurdling that his star instantly began to rise.

The late John Durkan was Istabraq’s intended trainer after JP McManus purchased the horse, but Durkan’s leukaemia diagnosis and subsequent death meant Aidan O’Brien ended up guiding him through his jumping career.

At the time, O’Brien was a young man beginning to make a real mark under both codes, Istabraq’s successes followed a breakthrough at Group level on the Flat and proved beyond all doubt the remarkable horsemanship of the trainer.

Beaten just a head under Charlie Swan on his hurdling debut, Istabraq then began a novice-season winning streak that included five Graded races and peaked with victory in both the Royal Sunalliance Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival and the Champion Novice Hurdle at Punchestown.

Swan retained the ride all throughout the horse’s career and when he returned in open company the following season, the partnership still proved to be nearly unbeatable, storming through the fixture list undefeated up until his superb 12-length Champion Hurdle triumph.

He finally met with defeat when beaten just a head in the Aintree Hurdle, but the winning thread was swiftly regained the following season and he soared through the campaign to prevail each and every time – achieving a Grade One four-timer that included the Champion Hurdle races at Leopardstown, Cheltenham and Punchestown, plus retribution in the Aintree Hurdle.

He took the same route the following season, with the exception of Aintree, and again his supremacy was undeniable as he reliably turned up and won with minimal fuss – establishing himself as a truly great racehorse and one of only a handful to land three Champion Hurdle triumphs.

His 2000-2001 season was interrupted by uncharacteristic falls in the Festival Hurdle and the Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown, with the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease scuppering his bid for a record-breaking fourth Champion Hurdle title at the Cheltenham Festival.

He did win the Leopardstown Champion Hurdle in between times, however, and returned in December 2001 to take the Festival Hurdle for a fourth time before pulling up on his last start in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham later that season.

He spent his retirement at his owner’s Martinstown Stud, doted on for more than two decades and revered as one of the all-time greats of not only the hurdling division, but the sport in general.

His birthday was always celebrated by his owners and in May this year he turned 32, a ripe old age and one that eventually took its toll when he died in the early hours of the morning on July 25.

He will be remembered as the outstanding horse of his time and mentioned in any debate about the best hurdlers to ever grace the sport, his legacy being so significant that passengers using Terminal 2 at Dublin airport are met with his likeness immortalised on canvas.

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