Inca raring to go

Colm Murphy is confident Brave Inca will get the trip as he tries three miles for the first time at Punchestown tomorrow.

The nine-year-old has yet to race in excess of two and a half miles but is pitched in at the deep end in the Dunboyne Castle Hotel & Spa Champion Stayers’ Hurdle.

Brave Inca was last seen when failing by three lengths to land back-to-back Champion Hurdles at the Cheltenham Festival, but has already struck twice at the highest level this term.

Murphy reports his charge to be in sparkling form ahead of this latest assignment but admits Punchestown is a late addition to Brave Inca’s agenda.

“He’s come out of Cheltenham very well, we are delighted with him,” explained the County Wexford handler.

“We hadn’t originally planned to run at Punchestown this year and we were going to call it a day after Cheltenham. He has come out of the Champion Hurdle so well though, we have no choice but to run.”

Murphy is relatively unconcerned by Brave Inca’s step up in trip but he would like to see some rain at Punchestown.

“I don’t think there’s any question about the trip,” he said.

“He gets two and a half miles on heavy ground as he showed when he won the Hatton’s Grace Hurdle and the times he has been beaten, all he was doing was staying on.

“I think if anything the trip will probably help him as we will have time to settle him in rather than riding him as aggressively as we have been doing.

“I wouldn’t want the ground too quick though – we’ll be hoping they get a bit of rain.”

Brave Inca is set to face eight rivals tomorrow, headed by British raider Mighty Man, who is bidding to follow up on a fine second in the World Hurdle and a win at Aintree.

“Mighty Man is a very good horse, there’s no doubt about that, but Brave Inca has won English and Irish Champion Hurdles and just has a bit of pace which will hopefully help,” Murphy added.

“It will be an interesting race.”