Murphy hits jackpot with Brave Inca

Racing: Colm Murphy spent six years as Aidan O'Brien's assistant trainer and Brave Inca's graduation to the top of the Irish novice class proves he was paying attention.

Plenty of reputations, including that of the odds-on Watson Lake, counted for nothing in the Deloitte Hurdle as Brave Inca battled his way to a narrow defeat of Newmill that prompted Paddy Power to make the winner an 8 to 1 shot for the SunAlliance and 10 to 1 for the Supreme.

Like his former mentor, 29-year-old Murphy doesn't believe in restricting his options and Brave Inca will also be entered in the Coral Cup and the County Hurdle. "I suppose the handicapper will kill him but everything will depend on the ground. If there is cut we would go for the Supreme and if it's quick the SunAlliance," said the Gorey-based trainer who has been training for just three years. Murphy appears to have a bone fide talent on his hands.

Watson Lake was a dire disappointment in sixth, tested post-race normal, but trainer Noel Meade said: "He was never going with the same zest. I'm confident that's not his true form."

The extent of Pizarro's ability is already pretty well established but the depths of his courage were tested in a head defeat of Mossy Green in the PJ Moriarty. It was only the last couple of strides that Pizarro overhauled Mossy Green which left Edward O'Grady praising both Barry Geraghty and the horse. "It didn't do me a lot of good!" cracked the trainer who believes the extra distance of the SunAlliance Chase will suit the horse who remains a 6 to 1 second favourite for the festival. "That's why he's so good at Cheltenham. He loves the hill and he loves a battle."

Noel Meade and Paul Carberry had better luck in the Cashmans Juvenile Hurdle where the ex-French Power Elite earned Triumph Hurdle quotes of as low as 16 to 1 for beating Nopekan.

There was nothing obvious about the handicap hurdle as the favourite Macs Joy got thrown out of first place by the stewards after crossing Kilbeggan Lad on the run in. The bookies bet odds-on about the "winner" keeping it but the stewards reversed the placings, a move that has left Macs Joy's trainer Jessica Harrington contemplating an appeal. "I'm thinking seriously of an appeal and I'll sleep on it tonight," she said. Macs Joy's rider Andrew Leigh also got a four-day ban for careless riding.