DESSIE Hughes’ horses are in fine shape right now and his Ten Fires gets the napto take the 20 runner www.navanracecourse.ie Maiden Hurdle at the Co Meath track this afternoon.

I travel to Cheltenham today for four rides, but think it’s fair to say the highlight of the weekend promises to be teaming up with Brave Inca in the Toshiba Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown tomorrow.

Brave Inca will try and use his trademark battling qualities to justify favouritism and end a two-year losing stretch in the Toshiba Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown on Sunday.

Brave Inca and Sublimity headline 10 runners for the Toshiba Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown on Sunday.

The last four winners of the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle could reoppose at the Cheltenham Festival as Hardy Eustace, Brave Inca, Sublimity and Katchit are among 34 possibles for this year’s renewal

Sublimity will attempt to regain his Champion Hurdle crown at Cheltenham on top of his game after providing rookie trainer Robbie Hennessy with a first win in the Leopardstown Golf Centre December Festival Hurdle.

Robbie Hennessy saddled his first ever winner as 2007 Champion Hurdle victor Sublimity saw off a battle-hardened field in the Grade One Leopardstown Golf Centre December Festival Hurdle today.

Brave Inca’s trainer Colm Murphy is another to have taken serious notice of Binocular’s awesome performance on Saturday.

DESCRIBING Philip Carberry as having been around the block once or twice is hardly wide of the mark, considering he’s now in his ninth season as a professional jockey.

Barry Geraghty paid tribute to a “great servant” after Macs Joy lost his life when breaking down in the Boylesports.com International Hurdle at Cheltenham.

CHAMPION hurdler Sublimity heads a high-class entry of 14 for the Boylesports.com International Hurdle at Cheltenham on Saturday.

Connections of Brave Inca and Hardy Eustace have yet to commit to the Grade One ACC Bank Champion Hurdle at Punchestown.

Butler's Cabin earned a quote of 33-1 for the 2008 John Smith's Grand National after pulling off a remarkable double with victory in the Powers Whiskey-sponsored Irish equivalent at Fairyhouse.

IF THE BOOKIES had it all their own way for the first three days of the festival, the punters finally had their moment yesterday with victories for heavily backed favourites Wichita Lineman and Kauto Star.

TWO magnificent timber-toppers in Brave Inca and Hardy Eustace may now be in decline, but there’s a new kid on the block from Ireland called Sublimity, who showed a devastating turn of foot to land the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle at sun-drenched Cheltenham yesterday.

COLM MURPHY is not expecting the ground to be a major stumbling block to Brave Inca as he prepares to defend his Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle title.

A MOMENT in the limelight at the Cheltenham Festival is a lifelong ambition for most jumps owners, so for the Novices Syndicate, Brave Inca’s ascension to the top of the hurdling ranks is a dream beyond their wildest comprehension.

PHILIP Hobbs’ Detroit City, the main British hope, heads the betting at 2-1 following yesterday’s defection of both Macs Joy and Harchibald.

COLM Murphy has confirmed Ruby Walsh will take the reins on Brave Inca when he attempts to defend his crown in the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle next Tuesday.

CONOR O’DWYER, on the eve of his 41st birthday, believes if he is to ride a winner at Cheltenham next week it will be Hardy Eustace in the Champion Hurdle.

Colm Murphy has confirmed Ruby Walsh will take the reins on Brave Inca when he attempts to defend his crown in the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle.

COLM MURPHY is closely monitoring the weather as he looks to complete Brave Inca’s preparations for the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle.

ROYAL & SUNALLIANCE Chase fancy Cailin Alainn is showing all the right signs ahead of her appearance at the Cheltenham Festival.

Dessie Hughes is bullish about the chances of Hardy Eustace regaining his Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle title at Cheltenham.

DARYL JACOB insists he feels under no extra pressure ahead of The Listener’s engagement in the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at the weekend.

Jessica Harrington has confirmed Macs Joy is on target for a pre-Cheltenham clash with Hardy Eustace and Harchibald in the Red Mills Hurdle at Gowran at February 17.

Detroit City is reported to be in top form following his workmanlike victory in the Agfa UK Hurdle at Sandown.

THE AIG Europe Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown yesterday, won in some style by the great Hardy Eustace, was surely the best contest ever run over flights in this country!

CHAMPION Hurdler Brave Inca will face a maximum of eight rivals in what looks a fascinating renewal of the AIG Europe Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown on Sunday.

Champion Hurdler Brave Inca will face a maximum of eight rivals in what looks a fascinating renewal of the AIG Europe Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown on Sunday.

IF some of us are to learn one lesson from the four-day Leopardstown extravaganza it is that we must never, ever, underestimate Brave Inca again.

A possible rematch between Brave Inca and Iktitaf in the AIG Europe Champion Hurdle later this month is likely to hinge on the ground.

Brave Inca gamely held Iktitaf to win the bewleyshotels.com December Festival Hurdle for the second year running at Leopardstown.

TONY MCCOY heads for Newbury this afternoon and so misses teaming up with Brave Inca in the bewleyshotels.com December Festival Hurdle.

Brave Inca and Iktitaf face a small-field rematch in the bewleyshotels.com December Festival Hurdle at Leopardstown tomorrow.

CASHMANS have installed totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup hero War Of Attrition and race specialist Beef Or Salmon as the 6-4 joint-favourites for the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown on December 28.

MICHAEL O’LEARY, owner of the 2006 Horse of the Year award winner War of Attrition, would be “most surprised” if his Cheltenham Gold Cup winning horse would be able to repeat his exploit next March.

Asian Maze has been given a clean bill of health following her disappointing effort behind Brave Inca yesterday.

BRAVE INCA heads a list of six possible runners in the Ballymore Properties Hatton’s Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse on Sunday.

Brave Inca heads a list of six possible runners in the Ballymore Properties Hatton’s Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse on Sunday.

Macs Joy will bypass Saturday’s wbx.com “Fighting Fifth” Hurdle at Newcastle after suffering a late setback.

NOEL MEADE has moved to silence the doubters after Iktitaf’s victory in the Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown on Sunday.

Noel Meade has moved to silence the doubters after Iktitaf's victory in the Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown on Sunday.

TONY McCoy, as expected, has been claimed to partner Clan Royal in the Becher Chase at Aintree and so misses the ride on Brave Inca in the Maplewood Developments Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown tomorrow.