Inca’s time has arrived
The great Istabraq scored three times between 1998-2000, there was no Festival in 2001 because of foot and mouth and Hardy Eustace has done the business for the last two years.
There are very solid reasons for believing it is now Brave Inca's turn. Beaten two necks into third a year ago behind Hardy Eustace and Harchibald, he has looked an even better horse for the most part of this campaign.
That improvement has coincided with the eight-year-old teaming up with Tony McCoy. Brave Inca has been ridden much more prominently in his races and seems ideally suited by such tactics.
He emphasised his current well-being with a typically gutsy performance in the AIG at Leopardstown at the end of January. Always on the pace, McCoy sent him on after the fourth flight and Colm Murphy's teak-tough gelding answered every call.
Macs Joy was travelling the stronger heading to the final flight, but it was Brave Inca who buckled down when the war began to rage and was a comfortable length to the good at the line.
Such admirable attributes are likely to serve him well when the final fearsome Cheltenham hill has to be faced today.
Macs Joy went on to score smoothly at Gowran Park, but all the evidence available tells us he will not be man enough to go past Brave Inca in the closing stages.
The one I fear most is the dual champion Hardy Eustace, if running up to his best. Dessie Hughes' charge has worn blinkers on both occasions he's won the Champion hurdle, but, rather interestingly, is now fitted with a visor.
We know he has what it takes and was the selection twelve months ago. But Hardy Eustace made no show in the AIG and that is simply too much of a worry to put him forward with any confidence.
If there is to be a minor surprise then Asian Maze, in receipt of a not-to-be-sneezed-at mares' allowance of 7lbs, could be the one to provide it.
She ran a cracker on her return behind Macs Joy at Gowran and Ruby Walsh will surely make plenty of use of her undoubted stamina.
Noel Meade's Sweet Wake faces his moment of truth in the opening Anglo Irish Bank Supreme Novices' Hurdle.
Connections won't hear of defeat, but he arrives here having beaten nothing in two races over flights and without having come off the bridle. He's not for me at relatively cramped odds and preference is for Noland, seeking a four-timer and impressive enough when taking a well-contested event from Mister Quasimodo at Exeter.
The Irish Independent Arkle Trophy could be the race of the meeting, bringing together some cracking horses. Racing Demon is, arguably, the best in the contest, but has a distinct tendency to jump to his right and has never won left-handed.
The vote goes to Missed That, like Noland, seeking a fourth victory in-a-row. Hopefully, he will jump well and in Ruby Walsh has the ideal partner to nurse him round and then strike at the right time.
