A QUARTER of a century after Istabraq imperiously ruled Prestbury Park, the all-time great was honoured by the Association of Sports’ Journalists in Ireland, in conjunction with Flutter UK and Ireland.

The owner, trainer and jockey of the triple Champion Hurdle winner attended a reception at the Cashel Palace Hotel to formally witness Istabraq being incorporated into the association’s who’s who of ‘Irish Sporting Legends’.

Istabraq spent his retirement at Martinstown Stud until he passed away in July 2024, at the ripe old age of 32.

Owner J.P. McManus said: “This has been a very special day for everyone connected with Istabraq. We were very fortunate to own a horse like him. I was a young man then and it meant we could celebrate Istabraq for so many years afterwards. The great thing about him was that every time Istabraq was running I knew where all the family would be. You would never know usually but whenever Istabraq was running everyone would turn up. He was just so special.”

Trainer Aidan O’Brien added: “I remember Charlie, after his first ride on him, saying this horse is very special and he went on and won for the next two or three years. J.P. and Charlie planned out the races together, J.P. gave him all the instructions and we just looked after Istabraq. He was one in a million and we learned so much from working with him.”

Charlie Swan commented: “When I rode Istabraq in his first couple of races, he wasn’t the quickest horse in the world to ride, not even in his work at home, but he was such a quick jumper. His natural jumping ability, and whatever Aidan did with him, put another 20 lengths of speed into him. He was just a brilliant hurdler.”

“The Association of Sports’ Journalists in Ireland is truly honoured to salute the outstanding achievements of Istabraq, J.P., Aidan and Charlie during that halcyon era for Irish racing,” said ASJI president Paul Lennon.

“Mention the name Istabraq and immediately you conjure up the image of J.P.’s famous green and gold silks powering up the hill at Cheltenham under Charlie.”