Racing: Brave Inca gamely held Iktitaf to win the bewleyshotels.com December Festival Hurdle for the second year running at Leopardstown.
Colm Murphy's eight-year-old, ridden by Ruby Walsh for the first time, was always prominent and did not shirk the issue when challenged by Iktitaf from the final flight.
The 6-4 shot responded to Walsh's urgings to beat the 4-6 favourite by a length and a quarter. Silent Oscar was third with Al Eile last of the four runners.
"He's some horse," said Walsh, "and there was loads of horse left in him. He travelled super all the way. You have to ride him but he really is the real deal."
Silent Oscar, the 100-1 outsider of the quartet, helped Brave Inca set the pace until Walsh upped the tempo on last season's Champion Hurdle winner at the third last.
Iktitaf appeared to be full of running but found little when asked the question by Paul Carberry and Brave Inca bounded away on the run-in.
Murphy was thrilled to see his charge reverse the form with Iktitaf, who had him back in third when the pair contested the Morgiana Hurdle last month.
He said: "I was delighted with the horse — he travelled so well and jumped super. He was lucky that he had company up front and he made it look easy.
"I couldn't have been happier with him before the race but nicer ground for him would have been better.
"It is amazing how he comes on with each run and you wouldn't believe the improvement he showed from the Hatton's Grace to here and there will be more improvement from this.
"We will do the same as last year now and go to the AIG and then on to Cheltenham."
Walsh added: "He is a hell of a horse and is never beaten. He hears the hooves of the other horses behind him and goes on again. He was only dossing in front and is as tough as nails."
Noel Meade is keen to have another crack at Brave Inca and is looking forward to sending Iktitaf to Cheltenham.
He said: "I knew we were in trouble from early on when the winner was travelling so well for Ruby.
"The winner is a hell of a horse and I don't want to take anything away from him but I look forward to taking him on again in Cheltenham."
Carberry added: "He didn't like the ground and is a much better horse on good ground."
Brave Inca is 7-2 with VC Bet to win the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham while William Hill have trimmed him to 9-2 from 5-1 and pushed out Iktitaf to 10-1 from 6s.
The favourite Detroit City remains unchanged at 9-4.