Brave Inca can prove the mightier
What makes it so interesting is that we know Mighty Man will get every yard of the three miles, whereas Brave Inca is tackling the trip for the first time.
The feeling, however, is that this is just what’s required for the selection at this stage of an honourable career.
He showed in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham that any attempt to begin writing him off is very much premature.
Brave Inca again ran his heart out and it was only the blinding speed of the two years younger Sublimity that proved too much for him.
Sublimity quickened in style from the final flight to beat Brave Inca by three lengths. The furthest Colm Murphy’s warrior has ever won over is two and a half miles, but here’s one who will be more than surprised should a lack of stamina beat him.
Mighty Man is a worthy opponent, coming here on the back of excellent performances at Cheltenham and Aintree.
At Prestbury Park, he finished a gallant second to Inglis Drever and made no mistake at Aintree when slamming Black Jack Ketchum.
Nicky Henderson’s Punjabi, who ran a cracker when runner-up behind Katchit at Aintree, looks best in the Ballymore Properties Champion four-year-old Hurdle.
The ground may just be on the quick side for him, but the English juveniles appear much better than ours and he gets the nod ahead of Willie Mullins’ Financial Reward.
There’s going to be some pace on in the Swordlestown Cup Novice Chase with Gemini Lucy and Siberion likely to bowl along.
It could well be set up for a horse coming from behind and the vote falls on Schindlers Hunt, who found two and a half miles too far when a creditable second to One Cool Cookie at Fairyhouse.
