He picked out the gelding for Ireland's premier punting owner, J P McManus, who was yesterday a winning comrade in arms with Ireland's top trainer, Aidan O'Brien, and the nation's leading jumps jockey, Charlie Swan. Istabraq's 12-length thrashing of a huge field, Ireland's first success in the race since Dawn Run in 1984, would have been emotional enough in front of the thousands who had travelled over the water to back their favourite. John Durkan was taken away by leukaemia in January at the age of 31, but one of the legacies left by the would-be trainer was the talent-spotting of Istabraq. Substitutes not used: Lukic (gk), Grimandi.Referee: M Reed (Birmingham).. THE IRISH dream team won the Champion Hurdle on St Patrick's Day with Istabraq yesterday and immediately dedicated the race to the man who is permanently in their own dreams. Substitutes not used: Forrest (gk), Bishop, Mean.Arsenal (4-4-2): Manninger; Dixon, Keown, Adams, Winterburn; Garde, Vieira, Petit (Boa Morte, 90) Overmars (Hughes, 66); Bergkamp, Anelka (Wreh, 83). It's not easy, they still had their back eight intact and they are a tremendous team but I thought we'd win after John took his goal."Instead it went to the drama of penalties.
After 10 it was 3-3 with Hartson, who also failed from the spot in West Ham's Coca-Cola Cup defeat by Arsenal, among those who failed Then Tony Adams scored but Abou hit the post. As Arsenal's fans celebrated the Frenchman was consoled by his opponents, and compatriots, Vieira and Petit.It was Arsenal's first FA Cup win at Upton Park since 1906, when they still arrived by ferry from Woolwich. Last night they went back to north London by bus but, tired as they were, they felt like they were travelling on air.West Ham United (3-5-2): Lama; Unsworth, Ferdinand, Pearce (Moncur, h/t); Potts (Hodges, 77), Lomas, Berkovic, Lampard, Lazaridis; Abou, Hartson. It was all to no avail."I could not have asked for more effort" said Harry Redknapp after his team's first defeat in 11 games "We really battered them in extra time.
West Ham dominated extra- time with Hartson hitting the bar and Manninger making further saves. While Tony Adams and Keown, and Vieira and Emmanuel Petit, were again magnificent the Hammers created enough chances to win.Hartson was continually denied, but the best save was from Frank Lampard, a stunning far-post parry. When it came to penalties he was again equal to the challenge brilliantly saving from Eyal Berkovic after Remi Garde's miss had given the Hammers the advantage.Arsenal, now beaten once in 20 games, had totally controlled the first- half even after Bergkamp's dismissal and were rewarded when Anelka scored from 20 yards after Marc Overmars and Vieira had combined.The second half was a complete reverse as West Ham piled on the pressure eventually culminating with Hartson's 84th-minute equaliser from 15 yards after he had dribbled by Keown, Dixon and Petit. I think Manninger made the difference."The Austrian made a string of superb saves as West Ham mounted immense second-half pressure. He was stupid but it was not a fight, it was a reaction because he was pulled on the shirt I was scared when they came back to 1-1 We had extra time to play and the players were so tired We had to wait for the penalties and maybe a bit of luck.
