Inca digs deep for glory

BRAVE INCA is now clear favourite for the Smurfit Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham following yet another superb performance in the AIG Europe Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown yesterday.

It was a case of all the major layers immediately scrambling to shorten his price and there seems little doubt that whatever beats Colm Murphy's mighty gelding at the foot of the Cotswolds in March will find himself in the winner's enclosure.

Boylesports go 5-2, William Hill, Paddy Power and Cashmans 9-4 and Grahams have him at 7-4. What they all have in common is agreeing he is now entitled to be clear favourite. In contrast dual Champion Hurdler Hardy Eustace, who finished seventh of seven, has taken a big walk in the ante-post market.