All systems go for Brave Inca in December Hurdle

NEWS ROUND-UP: LEOPARDSTOWN HAS been a happy Christmas hunting ground for Brave Inca in the past and the veteran former champion hurdler is on track for another Grade One start at the Co Dublin track.

The December Festival Hurdle is the final day highlight of the Christmas festival and a race that Brave Inca has won twice in the past, in both 2006 and 2005.

Trainer Colm Murphy has elected to try again for the two-mile feature after Brave Inca's remarkable return to action after an 18-month injury absence in last month's Hatton's Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse.

Only Catch Me was able to get the better of Brave Inca in the Hatton's Grace but that comeback was almost too good for the Murphy team with a view to his upcoming target.

"He knew he had a hard race but he has bounced back and is in great form now. But he probably had a harder race than ideal," Murphy said yesterday.

"I didn't think he would run as well as he did. I thought he would blow up before the second last but when he jumped the last in contention Davy (Russell) had to get stuck into him.

"In that sense you would have preferred him not to have had that sort of race first time. But he is as good as ever now," he added.

Brave Inca is set to face his old rival Hardy Eustace at Leopardstown but he will be facing the new star on the Irish hurdling scene, Sizing Europe, for the first time. However, Murphy is unconcerned about that or the drop back to two miles.

"It's going to be soft and it will feel like two and a half miles at this time of year. There has always been questioning of his speed but he was fast enough to win a Supreme and to go down to the last in a Champion Hurdle on the bridle (2005.) And I don't think he has got slower," he said.

Brave Inca's connections have pursued a "best available" policy when it comes to who rides the horse and nothing has been decided about Christmas jockey plans.

Murphy could also aim his star novice Zaarito at a Grade One prize at Leopardstown, with the Paddy Power Future Champions Novice Hurdle a possible target for last season's top bumper performer.

Zaarito was beaten a short head by Oscar Looby on his first start over jumps at Navan but his trainer was still happy with the display.

"Another nose and we would have had to go for the Grade One anyway," Murphy said yesterday. "We could still go for a maiden but the Grade One is a possibility. I was delighted with his first run. He wasn't as forward as I thought. He jumped well too after being a bit novicey at the start."

Another Leopardstown veteran returning to Foxrock will be Mansony, who will attempt to score back-to-back victories in the Grade One Dial-A-Bet Chase over two miles.

The Arthur Moore-trained star warmed up for Leopardstown last year by running in the John Durkan and did the same earlier this month when fourth to Noland.

"He is going to Leopardstown. He won it last year and ran a similar race in the John Durkan again," Moore said yesterday. "At least he won't be up against the horses who finished in front him there."

Moore is also considering Saturday's Ladbrokes Hurdle at Ascot for Sole Bonne Femme who would be reverting back to the smaller obstacles after a run in a novice chase. "He made a mistake but the ground was probably too heavy anyway last time. We thought we would make an entry for this race and we will decide on Thursday," Moore added.