Racing: Colm Murphy reports Brave Inca "as good as ever" ahead of his return from a lengthy absence in the Bar One Racing Hatton's Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse on Sunday.
Part of the golden age of Irish two-mile hurdlers, he claimed the 2006 Champion Hurdle in a thrilling finish from Macs Joy and Hardy Eustace. However, tendon trouble has kept him off the track since the Punchestown Festival in 2007.
"He's much the same as in previous years for his first run, but he will no doubt improve for the run," said Murphy.
"He seems as good as ever. His enthusiasm is still there and there is not too much mileage on the clock - he has only ever run four or five times a season.
"The magnitude of the injury was never that significant but, at the same time, it was always there.
"We were lucky enough to spot it pretty early and I think he's made a 100 per cent recovery."
The likes of Hardy Eustace, Catch Me, Kazal and Aitmatov are all due to line up in the Grade One event.