McCoy expects Inca to shine

TONY MCCOY hopes Brave Inca will not show the effects of a tough campaign when he bids for back-to-back victories in the ACC Bank Champion Hurdle at Punchestown on Friday.

Colm Murphy’s charge beat Harchibald by a head in the Grade One feature 12 months ago after falling in the Aintree Hurdle just three weeks earlier.

“He’s the champion hurdler and he’s been very impressive all season,” said McCoy. “He didn’t travel as well when he won at Cheltenham as before but that was because of the pace of the race.