Geraghty steps in for absent McCoy aboard Brave Inca
The champion jockey built up a fantastic partnership with Colm Murphy’s eight-year-old last season, with their success at Cheltenham proving the highlight.
That was the fifth win for the pair from only seven starts, but McCoy misses out at the weekend as his boss JP McManus requires him to ride Clan Royal in the Becher Chase at Aintree.
“I hope Clan Royal wins the Becher as that would make up for missing out on riding Brave Inca,” said McCoy
“You’re always gutted when you can’t ride any horse, but there are very few you don’t want to miss and he is definitely one of them.”
Brave Inca won the corresponding race 12 months ago under McCoy on soft ground, but conditions at the track are currently riding heavy.
“He doesn’t really want testing ground, but it was very soft when I won on him last year,” continued McCoy.
“I’ve spoken to Colm and he says he is in good form and (I think) he’ll probably win. I certainly hope he does,” he told At The Races.
In his absence, Barry Geraghty has come in for the plum ride and is understandably delighted.
“It’s a great bit of news,” he said. “He is a very good horse and it’s a very good race.
“I haven’t spoken to Colm, but I’d be very hopeful that he would win.”
Geraghty and Macs Joy had to play second fiddle to Brave Inca at Cheltenham, although the pair managed to turn the tables at Punchestown in April.
“I’m really looking forward to riding him (for the first time). He’s beaten me as many times as I’ve beaten him!” the rider added.
“He’s a class horse and last year’s Champion Hurdle was as good as there has ever been in recent years. He’s a worthy champion and it’s great to get the opportunity to ride him.”
His chief market rival is the Noel Meade-trained Iktitaf, who goes into the race on a five-timer, with one of his successes coming on the level in the Irish Cesarewitch.
He was arguably Ireland’s leading novice hurdler last season, but Meade is under no illusions to the size of his task up against the big boys for the first time.
Meade had stated that he was aiming at the Hatton’s Grace at Fairyhouse in a fortnight’s time, but with Harchibald re-routed to the Fighting Fifth at Newcastle next week, the Co Meath-handler has plunged Iktitaf in at the deep end.
“This is a Grade One race and it’s worth an awful lot of money,” reasoned Meade. “The horse is in great form, he’s had a couple of easy runs and there’s only a few runners.
“I know the Champion Hurdler is in it, but it’s his first run of the season, the mare (Asian Maze) is having her first run and the other fellow (Newmill) is a chaser more than a hurdler.
“It’s a Grade One and he’s in such good form we thought we would have a go. I don’t know myself whether he is going to be good enough, but there is only one way we are going to find out.
“The horse is in great form so we will see what happens.
“He can’t be that far away from the top hurdlers as he has been winning Grade Ones, it’s just that this will be his first time against the best.
“I’m not expecting too much from him on his first try against them, it is very difficult for these second-season hurdlers.
“But, it’s only 50 miles from home and it’s worth 100,000 so he may as well run.
“He handles soft ground quite well. He is probably better on better ground, but I think he has as good a chance on it as the rest of them.”
Andrew McNamara will renew acquaintances with Champion Chase hero Newmill.
And while the Morgiana is over smaller obstacles, the jockey does not believe he is too far behind the leading hurdlers.
“It looks a cracking race on paper and Brave Inca and Iktitaf look the two main contenders,” said McNamara.
“Newmill will take his chance but there are plenty of other options for him later in the season and we are not going to knock him about. He ran well in this race last season and he is probably a better horse now. He wasn’t beaten all that far by them in this race last year and in the December Festival Hurdle.
“He was only beaten about six lengths in the Morgiana last season and he should realistically be there in the shake-up but he might have one or two lengths to find.”
The credentials of the Brave Inca and Iktitaf are so similar that William Hill make them 6/4 joint-favourites.
