Brave Inca - can land the spoils.
BE BRAVE AND ROW IN WITH INCA
By Alan Sweetman
For the second year in succession Irish stables appear have a stranglehold on the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle, in which Hardy Eustace defends his title for the second time and also bids to join the elite group of horses to have won at four Festivals in a row. The reigning champion has had an imperfect preparation this time, and though Dessie Hughes seems satisfied that he is back near the top of his form following his eclipse in the AIG Europe Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown he may not be quite sharp enough to cope with last season's third Brave Inca who has been in the ascendant this season. A general perception that Tony McCoy has effected a magical transformation in Brave Inca is not borne out by the facts, since Barry Cash rode him to three successive Grade 1 victories in 2004, including a narrow defeat of War Of Attrition in the Supreme Novices'. His previous rider's style was simply a more inelegant, less crafted version of McCoy's trademark combination of strength and determination, and the more likely truth of the matter is that Brave Inca is much closer to being the finished article this season than during last winter's campaign, his first out of the novice ranks. Having said that, it would be foolish to deny McCoy's vast big-race experience as a factor, and the partnership has gelled in telling fashion, producing four wins from five attempts, including the one-length defeat of Macs Joy in the AIG that provides one of the essential keys to this race. Macs Joy arrives at Cheltenham a fresher horse than a year ago when he had to settle for fifth, and should certainly not be underestimated following his comfortable victory over Asian Maze in the Red Mills at Gowran. Tom Mullins produced a minor bombshell last week when opting to run Asian Maze in the Champion rather than the Ladbrokes World Hurdle. Mullins is an intelligent strategist, and the mare may surprise a few people. Her proven stamina could be a potent weapon in a typical strong-run Champion, and she will be a lot sharper as a result of her belated seasonal debut in the Gowran race. Al Eile, seventh to Hardy Eustace last year, provides further depth to the Irish challenge and is another realistic contender for a share of the place money. In all the general euphoria about Irish performances at last year's Festival, it was generally overlooked that the tally did not include any of the meeting's four principal novice races. There is a strong chance that there will be no such omission this year, with the visitors mounting a strong challenge for two of the big novice races on the opening day. Sweet Wake will carry a heavy weight of Irish money in the Anglo Irish Bank Supreme Novices' Hurdle, aiming to give Noel Meade his second Festival success six years after Sausalito Bay made the breakthrough for him in the same event. The former German-trained Group 2 winner, one of seven Irish-trained runners, is favourite more on the strength of reputation rather than achievement, though there is no doubt that he has won his two races in stylish fashion. It will be fascinating to see how he measures up off the bridle against horses such as Noland and Straw Bear who head the home defence. O'Muircheartaigh has not had an ideal preparation but represents trainer Edward O'Grady whose splendid Festival record means that his chance has to be taken seriously. Willie Mullins runs the four-year-old Quatre Heures in order to bypass a clash with Mister Hight in the Triumph, but it is a difficult race for one of his age-group to win. The other raiders have plenty to prove, though Tom Hogan's German import Kalderon shaped with distinct promise on his recent hurdling debut. Last year's Supreme Novices' runner-up Wild Passion returns for a tilt at the Irish Independent Arkle Trophy, one of the most competitive races of the entire week. The two leading Irish challengers, Accordion Etoile and Missed That, have the merit of being course winners, and Accordion Etoile ran a fine race when fourth in last year's Champion. He is a pacier type than Missed That and looks the best Irish hope in a race in which Racing Demon and Foreman command major respect. Tony Martin's Thyestes winner Dun Doire contests the William Hill Handicap Chase in search of a sixth successive handicap win. He may be progressive enough to get into the shake-up, though it will take a smart performance to cope with rivals such as Moulin Riche and Alderburn. Last year's winner Spot Thedifference may struggle to repeat last year's victory in the Sporting Index Cross Country Chase, but trainer Enda Bolger stills holds a powerful hand courtesy of Good Step and Buailtes And Fadas. The Philip Rothwell-trained Native Jack and Katie Walsh's mount Never Compromise come into the reckoning on Punchestown running, but Good Step may strike for Bolger this time. Dabiroun was a 20-1 winner of the inaugural Fred Winter Juvenile Novice's Hurdle for Paul Nolan, and Irish stables have supported the race well, supplying eight of the 24 runners. Marhaba Million and Dreux appear too high in the weights, but if Artist's Muse came back to form after a bad run at Punchestown in January she might not be too far away for Ted Walsh. SELECTIONS 2.00 Sweet Wake
2.35 Foreman
3.15 Brave Inca (nap)
4.00 Moulin Riche
4.40 Good Step
5.20 Artist's Muse (ew)
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