Inca to head straight to festival

Brave Inca, who is one of Ireland’s big hopes for the Cheltenham Festival, may not run before then according to trainer Colm Murphy.

The six-year-old gelding won a Grade One event at Leopardstown earlier this month and is entered in the Letheby & Christopher Supreme and Royal & SunAlliance Novices’ Hurdle on March 16 and 17 respectively.

Murphy said: “I’m leaning towards the SunAlliance Novices’ Hurdle but if the ground is very fast he won’t run.

“Before then he is unlikely to race although I may give him a gallop somewhere.

“He was entered for Naas yesterday but I took him out because he wasn’t just right. He’s in good form now and I’m very happy with him.”

Brave Inca is a top-priced 12-1 chance for the Royal & SunAlliance Novices’ Hurdle.

If he does not run at Cheltenham, Brave Inca has the choice of meetings at Aintree, Fairyhouse and Punchestown.