Champion Hurdle ReportIt might not have been spectacular, but Brave Inca and Tony McCoy proved in yesterday's Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle that class can come wrapped in many different packages.

If any other horse in any other race were being ridden as vigorously as Brave Inca was before halfway yesterday, then favourite-backers would have been tearing up their tickets. But with Brave Inca, everyone's hands in the vast crowd remained steadfastly still.

This champion does things his own way. McCoy's own hands might have been rowing like Matthew Pinsent, but the certainty was that Brave Inca would respond. No one was disappointed.

In a titanic display of grit, determination and downright refusal to be beaten, the partnership made in heaven battled their way past the gallant title-holder, Hardy Eustace, and then picked up again to hold off Macs Joy by a length in the closing stages.

An Irish clean sweep of the first four places was completed by Al Eile, but by then the celebrations for a plan that seemed almost predestined had got under way with a vengeance.

"Relief," was the immediate feeling of Gorey trainer Colm Murphy. For the past 12 months his stable star had one objective, and that was improving on last year's third to Hardy Eustace. For the entire season his aim hadn't wavered. But the pessimist in Murphy was still worried.

"It's been almost like, if it was raining, and we wanted to ride him out, it suddenly stopped raining," Murphy exclaimed.

"Since last year I knew in my heart and soul there was a Champion in him and everything has gone exactly to plan. Winning the AIG and the Christmas Hurdle were great, but this is the race we wanted."

Murphy's fears had some substance though. Persistent, drizzly rain throughout the day turned the ground good to soft just before the big race, just the sort of sticky conditions Brave Inca hates. But with McCoy on his back, this horse tackles hard work the way John McCririck tucks into his grub.

"As Muhammad Ali said, you've got to have the will and the skill and the desire, and this lad's got everything," trilled McCoy.

"I love him. He's an absolute machine in every way. A bit lazy, but there's a big difference between being lazy and slow."

The 10-time champion jockey normally pursues success with a look on his face that suggests he has just left a particularly painful dental appointment. But this was very different.

"When I left Leopardstown (after the AIG) I was convinced he'd win this race. Conor (O'Dwyer) on Hardy Eustace was travelling well down the hill and I didn't want him to have it all his own way. I know my horse would keep pulling out more," McCoy added.

Brave Inca didn't disappoint and, after appearing vulnerable for most of the race, ended up looking as if he could gallop around again with nothing passing him. It was no surprise to see him installed a 7 to 2 favourite to win again next year.

Hardy Eustace's hopes of the three-in-a-row evaporated in the face of the new title-holder, and connections also had to cope with the nagging suspicion he wasn't quite at his best.

"He tried his heart out but I would have loved him to have had another race before this," reported O'Dwyer, while trainer Dessie Hughes added, "You have to say he might well have finished closer with a better preparation."

He will probably get the chance to make his point at the Punchestown festival next month, and that will also be the next target for Macs Joy, whose trainer, Jessica Harrington, described his gallant effort as a career-best performance.

She was also full of praise for Barry Geraghty's ride. But it was Geraghty who summed up the task Brave Inca's opponents face.

"The winner is exceptional, as good a Champion Hurdler as we've seen in years," he said.

"Just for a second on the turn-in I thought I had a chance, but I was only going on hope. Brave Inca is so hard to get by. If I'd got closer he would have just found more out of the locker. I can't be disappointed finishing second to him."

Afterwards, Murphy, whose other Champion hope, Feathard Lady, had been sidelined by injury last month, ruled out any idea of Brave Inca going chasing next year, and instead pointed him towards a glorious end-of-season finale at Punchestown.

"He's too good to go over fences," said the 30-year-old qualified accountant.

But there's no doubt Brave Inca would be tough enough for that game too.