Racing: Istabraq the retiring idol in another field of dreams

Istabraq, the horse who dominated Cheltenham with a Champion Hurdle hat-trick, is kicking his athletic heels around a field at Martinstown Stud, Co Limerick, as this year's Festival opens.

Most days, the 11-year-old munches grass in the company of another retired multiple winner, Risk Of Thunder, owned by Sean Connery. But Istabraq enjoys an occasional day trip – last Thursday there was an outing to Leopardstown racecourse, where he joined Danoli, another old Cheltenham hero, for a fund-raising event in support of cancer research.

Martinstown is run by Istabraq's owner, J P McManus, and his wife, Noreen. Fluent jumping and a fine turn of foot made Istabraq, who won 23 of his 29 races over hurdles, a giant in the sport of National Hunt racing – literally so in the eyes of the people of Bruff, also in Limerick, where a 40ft mural pays tribute to him.

But for the foot-and-mouth epidemic which forced the abandonment of the 2001 Festival, Istabraq might well have won an unprecedented fourth Champion Hurdle crown. Last year, he started 2-1 favourite, but his regular rider, Charlie Swan, pulled him up after only two flights.