Racing: Champion Hurdle winner Brave Inca still holds an outside chance of running this season. A slight tendon problem was discovered in the near-foreleg of Colm Murphy's popular gelding during August and he was expected to be given plenty of time off before a reappearance next winter.
Although the trainer is keen not to make any specific plans yet, Brave Inca seems to have made a decent recovery and is currently exercising at his Co Wexford stables.
"He's started back and is cantering away," said Murphy. "He got the all-clear. It is more than likely he won't run this season but again, we are not ruling anything out. The plan has always been to have him back early next year. It was never serious, but it was serious enough to stop with him.
"We are just looking forward to having him back and playing it by ear but maybe if he does come to hand that little bit quicker, you never know."
The hero of the 2006 Champion at Cheltenham was second to Sublimity the following year.
However, he put in a dismal performance the last time he was seen when stepped up to three miles in the Champion Stayers' Hurdle at Punchestown in April.