Punchestown a possible target for Inca

Brave Inca is unscathed after his fall in yesterday’s Scottish And Newcastle Aintree Hurdle and may next be seen at the Punchestown Festival.

Colm Murphy’s stable star, sent off the 2-1 favourite for the Grade One event, was still well in contention before he crashed through the third last and deposited Barry Cash on the turf.

Al Eile went on to win the race.

“He’s fine,” said Murphy.

“We got him back this morning and he is out in a field at the moment. He seems good, and is bucking and squealing.

“It’s difficult to say whether he would have won, but he had every chance when he fell.

“He will be entered at Punchestown if all goes well, but we will see how he is over the next couple of weeks.”

Brave Inca scored as a novice at the Punchestown Festival in 2004, and if he tackles the Emo Oil Champion Hurdle on April 29 he could again clash with Harchibald, who finished a neck in front of him when the pair were second and third in last month’s Smurfit Champion Hurdle behind Hardy Eustace.