THREE-TIME Champion Hurdle hero Istabraq (3.15) attempts to scale new heights at Cheltenham today.

Persian War, Sir Ken and See You Then all notched three, but no horse has ever won four consecutive Champion Hurdles.

He's got a mountain to climb, but the brilliant Istabraq, owned by the legendary Swiss-based Irish gambler J P McManus, has every chance of rewriting the record books on his annual pilgrimage to Prestbury Park.

Trainer Aidan O'Brien has clearly perfected the art of producing the slick-jumping top-class son of Sadler's Wells in the peak of condition for the £270,000 showpiece.

His long-time partner, Charlie Swan, a successful trainer in his own right nowadays, might well have already hung up his boots had Istabraq's career come to a premature end.

However, how could any self-respecting jockey retire with a guaranteed armchair ride in one of the most valuable races on the National Hunt calendar to look forward to every year?

Swan knows he is on the best horse in the race and his near ten per cent of the winnings amounts to as much as most of us earns in any 12-month period.

The good thing from a betting point of view is that the Irish raider is far from certain to start favourite with Martin Pipe's Valiramix and Nicky Henderson's Landing Light both the subject of strong support.

The weakness in Istabraq's ante-post price has materialised through his trainer's comments at the weekend, when O'Brien stated: "All good things come to an end and if he wins it will be a miracle. But he's done things before that we didn't think he could do."

Cheltenham will erupt if Istabraq wins and to my way of thinking connections wouldn't even contemplate letting his legions of fans down by running the horse unless he was anything other than 100 per cent fit.

JP McManus took a walk around the Cheltenham course yesterday with a group that included big-race jockey Charlie Swan.

Rumours have surrounded Istabraq's well-being and William Hill are offering him as 2-1 joint favourite with Valiramix ahead of the two-mile event.

McManus says he has his nerves under control and he is eager to get the Festival underway.

He said: ''I got over yesterday and I'm looking forward to the race more than anything. The track seems fine to me.

''The horse if flying over. He always travels first class!''

Leading owner David Johnson, who has more than a dozen horses running at this week's Festival, had positive news on leading JCB Triumph Hurdle hope Londoner and Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup contender Cyfor Malta.

Londoner made amends for a terrible debut at Kempton, where he ran out at the third flight of hurdles, when coming good at Taunton last time.

Johnson said: ''I know a few people have been crabbing his form but I think he has every chance.

''He's the highest rated Flat horse in the race, he jumps well and he was recommended by one of the best Flat trainers of all time in Henry Cecil.

''He jumps very well and when he won the first three came clear in a good time on the day. That proved, as the ground was soft, that he also stays.''

Johnson also believes that conditions have turned in the favour of Cyfor Malta, who has been a real 'mover' in ante-post markets over the last few days.

On his last run he was fourth behind Rince Ri in the Grade 2 Pillar Property Chase at Cheltenham on bottomless ground, but Johnson thinks the change to good to soft going will suit the horse.

He added: ''The ground has certainly come right for him. I really do believe he's the forgotten horse of the race, and while it's hard for horses to come back from injury look at Looks Like Trouble!

''Cyfor just couldn't act in terrible ground at Cheltenham last time in the Pillar. But on good ground he's top class and he loves the track.''

Racing-mad footballers Steve McManaman and Robbie Fowler are set to have four runners at next week's Cheltenham Festival.

And bookmakers William Hill have started betting on how many winners the England internationals will have from Auetaler, Bernardon, Samon and Seebald.

Hills are offering 10-11 that they draw a blank, 10-11 one winner, 8-1 two, 100-1 three and 1,000-1 that all four win