Bookmakers offered conflicting opinions on Brave Inca's determined success in the rescheduled Ballymore Properties Hatton's Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse yesterday.

Although Colm Murphy's Champion Hurdle hero showed all his trademark battling qualities to land the Grade One contest, William Hill were left cold and eased him out to 7 to 1 to successfully defend his crown at Cheltenham next March.

Conversely, totesport cut the eight-year-old from 5 to 1 to 9 to 2 to win the blue riband for a second year on the spin.

Totesport spokesman Damian Walker said: "Brave Inca hated every yard of that slog and we have cut his Champion Hurdle odds as he is back to winning form."

Showing characteristic steel, Brave Inca slogged through the mud to land the Hatton's Grace at the third time of asking.

Despite running in conditions that were far from ideal, McCoy nudged and cajoled his mount to a three-quarters-of-a-length victory from Rosaker, with odds-on favourite Asian Maze a disappointing fourth.

Sent off at 100 to 30, McCoy niggled Brave Inca along from before the halfway stage as Noel Meade's Rosaker (10 to 1) took them along at a moderate gallop.

Murphy's charge gained a narrow lead at the third-last and although Rosaker staged a late rally on the run-in, Paul Carberry's mount could not catch Brave Inca, whose appetite for a scrap proved decisive.

Murphy said: "He has had a hard race. The ground was not ideal, but he stuck to his guns well. He'll know he's had that run. We are always a bit worried about giving him too hard a race at this time of year, but I am delighted with that.

"The next race will be the bewleyshotels.com December Festival Hurdle at Leopardstown over Christmas (December 29th).

"If he gets back to Cheltenham in half as good form they will know they have had a race."

McCoy added: "He benefited from his run in the Morgiana and that was a better race than in previous years. He battled well today and it helped that Barry (Geraghty) looked after him the last time.

"The conditions were not ideal but he's a hard horse. He's getting older and a bit cuter. He's an amazing horse and still the best."

Cailin Alainn just got the better of Schindlers Hunt in a thrilling finish to the other Grade One contest on the card, the Ballymore Properties Drinmore Novice Chase.

Davy Russell's mount, sent off a 6 to 1 chance, found a little bit extra on the run-in to head Schindlers Hunt.