Murphy finds consolation in Inca

RACING: Colm Murphy has lost the smart novice Feathard Lady from his Cheltenham festival team but stable star Brave Inca is starting to give the Gorey trainer all the right signals ahead of the Smurfit Champion Hurdle.

Last year's Letheby & Christopher Supreme Novices' Hurdle winner has been runner-up in all four of his starts this season, but Murphy reports that he is now thriving in his spring preparation.

"We couldn't be happier with him. His work is stepping up in the last few days and you can see him starting to come to himself now. He is going better, his coat is coming and he wants to do the work better. From what we saw last year he seems to be a spring horse," said Murphy yesterday.

The trainer plans to gallop Brave Inca at the traditional post-race work session at Leopardstown in 16 days' time and will have another serious workout before that.

"We gave him a gallop at Leopardstown last year and we will try to do exactly the same this time," Murphy said. "There are about half-a-dozen horses going into the Champion Hurdle with a chance, but if we're half as well as we were last year we will have a serious chance."

Only Hors La Loi, the Supreme winner in 1999, has gone on to land the championship and that was three years afterwards. But the statistical record doesn't worry Brave Inca's trainer.

"SunAlliance winners have done well in recent years, the likes of Istabraq, and I agree you do want a staying horse around there. But we're happy with ours and it's all systems go," he said.

Feathard Lady is still being quoted at 20 to 1 in many ante-post lists for this year's Letheby & Christopher Supreme Hurdle but the smart mare is on the sidelines with a leg injury and won't be seen until next season.

"Before the Deloitte she got a little fracture on her near fore so it will probably be next season before you see her again. The injury is looking good, but we won't know for sure until more X-rays are taken," Murphy said.

Another major Cheltenham hope that will stretch out at Leopardstown before the festival is the Arkle hope Mariah Rollins, who hasn't been seen out since winning the Christmas Grade One at the Leopardstown track.

Trainer Pat Fahy currently reports the mare, who is as low as 8 to 1 with Cashmans for the festival, to be "perfect" and on course for the Cotswolds.

"The plan has always been to have her right for the day and I'm very happy with where we are. Last season she was out in September and you can't keep a horse right for that long a time. She was gone by the time Cheltenham came round but this time we want her peaking," said Fahy.

The trainer also has Washington Lad for the Brittania Insurance Novices' Hurdle, the new three-mile race at the festival, and reports that horse back on course.

"He threw a few coughs last week but he is over it already. There's nothing to it and if anything I'm glad he got it at that time. He has plenty of time to get over it. He's actually so well in himself he'd kill you," he said.

Ruby Walsh has ridden extensively for Fahy this season and the season's leading jockey has been installed as a 9 to 4 favourite with Cashmans to be the leading rider at the Cheltenham Festival.

Nearest to him in the betting is Timmy Murphy at 11 to 4 while Barry Geraghty is a 5 to 1 shot.

Walsh is at Clonmel today where his rides include Bizet in the conditions chase. This one was raised 12lb for a Fairyhouse success but still was well fancied for the Thyestes where he eventually finished third.

Brogella's run behind In Compliance at Punchestown gives her the clear winning of the mares maiden while Culrua Mist can defy a 7lb hike for winning at Tramore on New Year's Day.

CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL JOCKEY BETTING

Cashmans: 9-4 R Walsh, 11-4 T J Murphy, 9-2 A P McCoy, 5 B J Geraghty, 12 R Johnson, 16 G Lee, 20 M Fitzgerald and J Culloty, 25 bar.