Murphy and Hughes sit tight

Connections of Brave Inca and Hardy Eustace have yet to commit to the Grade One ACC Bank Champion Hurdle at Punchestown.

Although both seasoned campaigners are set to run at next week’s Festival, the pair will also be left in the Dunboyne Castle Hotel & Spa Champion Stayers’ Hurdle over three miles.

“Brave Inca is in good form and which race he goes for won’t have any effect on his final work for Punchestown,” Colm Murphy said of Brave Inca.

“If it was any other track I’d probably favour the two-mile race, but I’m a bit worried that at this stage of his career two miles around Punchestown might be a bit quick for him.”

Hardy Eustace’s trainer Dessie Hughes told the Racing Post: “We’ll leave him in both races and see how they are shaping up.

“It’s possible that two miles at Punchestown might be a bit sharp for him nowadays but we haven’t made a decision just yet.”