McCoy expects Inca to shine

Tony McCoy hopes Brave Inca will not show the effects of a tough campaign when he bids for back-to-back victories in the ACC Bank Champion Hurdle at Punchestown on Friday.

Colm Murphy’s charge beat Harchibald by a head in the Grade One feature 12 months ago after falling in the Aintree Hurdle just three weeks earlier.

“He’s the champion hurdler and he’s been very impressive all season. He’s every jockeys’ dream ride and I’ve been allowed to ride him,” said McCoy.

“He didn’t travel as well when he won at Cheltenham as before but that was because of the pace of the race.

“I had to get him racing earlier but he’s an exceptionally good horse.

“He went to Aintree after Cheltenham last year and fell. Then he came back and won at Punchestown.

“A lot of people said before Cheltenham that he’d had a lot of races and it might take its toll. Eventually it might, but hopefully he’ll be hard to beat,” the rider told At The Races.