Champion Hurdler supreme. Istabraq is one of only five horses to have won the Champion Hurdle on three consecutive running, 1998, 1999 and 2000. Had the 2001 renewal not been lost to the Foot and Mouth epidemic he may well have become the first horse in history to have won the race four times. He is trained by the irrepressible Aiden O'Brien who normally specialises in capturing the biggest prizes available on the flat circuit and ridden by Charlie Swan.