Inca lands Brave victory
Brave Inca denied Harchibald in a thrilling finish to the Emo Oil Champion Hurdle at Punchestown today.
The seven-year-old made most of the running in the hands of Tony McCoy and outbattled the 4-6 favourite on the run to the line.
Colm Murphy’s charge, a 2-1 chance, was making amends for falling at Aintree on his latest start and was reversing Smurfit Champion Hurdle form with Harchibald.
They had been separated by a neck when second and third to Hardy Eustace.
Rank outsider Bob What and Brave Inca set a slow early pace until they quickened the tempo after the third flight.
The race began in earnest four from home, where Bob What soon lost his place as both Macs Joy and Harchibald made their moves.
Brave Inca was the first to come under pressure as McCoy, who was replacing Barry Cash, resorted to the whip.
The big three took the final flight together and though Harchibald had appeared to be going best, it was Brave Inca who proved the strongest in a rousing battle to the line.
He got the verdict by a head from Paul Carberry’s mount, with Macs Joy a further length away back in third.
“He’s had a long year but he’s as tough as nails and always finds more. There was no point going out there to make the running and making a good gallop to set the race up for everybody else,” said Murphy.
“I spoke to AP (McCoy) last night and talked about plans and we wanted to leave enough in reserve for when Harchibald and Macs Joy challenged him.
“It’s great to get a win under his belt. He really deserved it and I’m thrilled to bits.
“He keeps finding more and more, and I knew the only way to beat them was to get them into a battle.
“He’ll be schooled over fences before he goes out for the summer and I’m not sure whether he’ll run over fences or stay over hurdles next season – I’m spoilt for choice.
“It’s great to end the season like this.”
McCoy added: “He’s a tough horse but he was not doing a lot for me. Previous to this win, he ran a good race at Cheltenham and has managed to finish ahead of Harchibald today.
“He’s a tough horse with a lot of class and there’s no reason why he can’t go back and win the Champion Hurdle.”
Noel Meade, who trains the enigmatic Harchibald, said: “There is no question that changing the jockey has improved the winner.
“Harchibald’s performance today proved that Paul did nothing wrong in Cheltenham.
“That’s racing. You get beaten sometimes and we’ll definitely go down the same route next season.”
Brave Inca was cut to 8-1 from 14-1 with Ladbrokes for next year’s Smurfit Champion Hurdle, while Harchibald was pushed out a point to 8-1 from 7s.
Macs Joy remains unchanged at 20-1, with dual winner Hardy Eustace the 5-1 market leader.
