Inca lands December double

Brave Inca gamely held Iktitaf to win the bewleyshotels.com December Festival Hurdle for the second year running at Leopardstown.

Colm Murphy’s eight-year-old, ridden by Ruby Walsh for the first time, was always prominent and did not shirk the issue when challenged by Iktitaf from the final flight.

The 6-4 shot responded to Walsh’s urgings to beat the 4-6 favourite by a length and a quarter. Silent Oscar was third with Al Eile last of the four runners.