Brave Inca may well be in the twilight of his glittering career but Betfair punters clearly believe that conditions at Leopardstown on Sunday will play right into the hands of Colm Murphy’s street-fighting stable star, and they make him the 7-2 joint-favourite for victory, alongside recent December Festival Hurdle winner Sublimity.
Brave Inca won his first Irish Champion Hurdle in 2006, when the race was sponsored by Insurance giants AIG, and with underfoot conditions at Leopardstown deteriorating faster than the former sponsor’s balance sheet, a gamble has developed on the tough-as-teak 11-year-old, who will relish a stamina-testing scrap in the mud.
Originally offered at 9-1 on Betfair’s ante post market, Brave Inca has been consistently well backed over the past week and looks set to start as favourite on Sunday if the poor weather forecast for Dublin proves accurate.
With Noel Meade’s good ground-loving pair of Jered and Harchibald absentees from the five day declarations, and Willie Mullins choosing not to declare his star novice Hurricane Fly, a total of 13 horses remain in the Grade 1 2m contest.
Others attracting support on Betfair include Sizing Europe (9-2 from 13-2) and Noel Meade’s remaining entrant Muirhead, who has been the subject of a substantial gamble and trades at 13-2 from 24-1.
Betfair’s Tony Calvin commented: “The absence of Hurricane Fly from the five-day declarations has robbed the race of a potentially explosive ‘battle of the ages’ but, with three Cheltenham Champion hurdlers still in the mix, this race could yet have a impact on the betting for next March’s renewal at Cheltenham.
“Brave Inca is adored by the Irish racing public and, with two good runs under his belt since his comeback from injury and with optimum conditions now looking likely, this gamble could well develop even greater momentum before Sunday afternoon.
“He could easily go off as short as 2-1.”
To win The Toshiba Irish Champion Hurdle -Betfair bet: 7-2 Brave Inca, Sublimity, 9-2 Sizing Europe, 13-2 Muirhead, 10-1 Won In The Dark, 12-1 Hardy Eustace, 22-1 Silent Oscar, 27-1 River Liane, 35-1 Beau Michael
