Hurdling aces set for Punchestown

BRAVE INCA, Macs Joy and Hardy Eustace fought out a thrilling finish at the Cheltenham Festival and form part of a nine-strong contingent for the ACC Bank Champion Hurdle at the Punchestown Festival.

Colm Murphy's Brave Inca landed the two-mile event 12 months ago and after a terrific campaign, held off the late challenge of Macs Joy to plunder the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle.

Dual winner of that race Hardy Eustace finished third and is likely to reoppose after chasing home Asian Maze over two and a half miles at Aintree last weekend.