Brave Inca primed for Punchestown

Colm Murphy revealed Brave Inca will take his chance in the ACCBank Champion Hurdle at Punchestown on April 27.

Murphy indicated earlier this month the former champion hurdler was finished for the season after he chased home Sublimity at the Cheltenham Festival.

However, the nine-year-old is in such good order that Murphy sees no reason why he should not attempt to regain a title he won in 2005.

Brave Inca also finished second to Macs Joy in the race last year when Murphy felt he possibly had one race too many.

“I had originally said I probably wouldn’t run him again as I think I made a mistake running him there last year,” said Murphy.

“He has come back so well after Cheltenham and he is so fresh in himself that I think I have no choice but to run him at Punchestown.

“I’m thrilled to bits with him at the moment so we probably will run him.

“He went so fast from a long way out with Hardy Eustace and he has beaten everything we thought we had to beat so, in fairness, he has run a blinder.

“Compared to last year, I can’t believe how well he has come out of the race.

“Ground permitting, we will run but I haven’t given his jockey a thought as yet because we weren’t originally going.”