Brave Inca is a hot favourite to repeat last year's success in Sunday's AIG Europe Irish Champion Hurdle where he is set to again lock horns with his old rival, the 2005 AIG winner Macs Joy.
Both horses are part of a nine-strong entry left in the Leopardstown feature after yesterday's forfeit stage but Brave Inca dominates the ante-post betting with Cashmans making him a clear even money market leader.
His trainer, Colm Murphy, gave an upbeat report on the reigning champion hurdler yesterday and indicated that Tony McCoy is likely to be reunited with the stalwart star.
"I haven't discussed it with the owners yet but I'm presuming Tony will be available. I don't see why he won't ride again," Murphy said. "The horse seems in good old order. We've had a good run since Christmas and he did his last serious piece of work last week."
McCoy was claimed by his boss, JP McManus, to ride in Britain last month when Brave Inca beat Iktitaf in the December Festival Hurdle with Ruby Walsh on board. Walsh was extremely impressed with the horse that day and although he is the usual rider for Asian Maze, that one's trainer, Tom Mullins, indicated yesterday that she may skip the AIG in favour of next month's Red Mills Trial at Gowran Park.
"It will be a last minute decision about the AIG but at the moment I'm leaning more towards the Red Mills as a more suitable prep' race for Cheltenham," Mullins said.
Asian Maze hasn't run since disappointing behind Brave Inca in the Hatton's Grace at Fairyhouse in early December. A number of possible options, including Leopardstown at Christmas, were turned down due to Mullins's reluctance to run her on heavy ground again.
"A lot will depend on the ground again. If I find it's surprisingly nice ground at Leopardstown later in the week, then I might be tempted. But at the moment, I'm favouring the Red Mills," Mullins added.
The ground at Leopardstown is currently soft and little change is expected before Sunday's big race. "There could be light showers on Wednesday but apart from that, it should stay dry all the way through this week. It's supposed to get a tiny bit milder at the weekend but with all this frosty weather, there is no great drying," said the Leopardstown manager , Tom Burke.
Macs Joy will be having his first start of the season, having beaten Brave Inca at Punchestown last April, and will be joined by his stable companion, the Grade One winning novice, Hide The Evidence.
Noel Meade is also doubly represented among the entries with Iktitaf joined by the Kempton Christmas Hurdle winner Jazz Messenger. However, some firms are only quoting the latter, with Iktitaf rated a doubtful starter along with Asian Maze.
A decision on whether or not the current Triumph Hurdle joint-favourite Lounaos will take her chance against the older horses is likely to be taken later in the week. Eoin Griffin's filly will get 19lb from the older males if she does take her chance although the last four-year-old to win the AIG was the Charlie Swan-ridden Nordic Surprise in 1991.
Schindlers Hunt, who will not be able to take his chance in the Arkle at the Cheltenham Festival due to an administrative cock-up at Dessie Hughes' yard, is a hot favourite to score a second course and distance Grade One victory in Sunday's Baileys Arkle.
Schindlers Hunt landed the Durkan New Homes Chase last month from Hear The Echo and both feature among the eight entries left in Sunday's main support race.
King Johns Castle, who unseated Tony McCoy at the third last at Leopardstown a week and a half ago, is rated as Schindlers Hunt's main danger in some ante-post lists.
Lounaos's stable companion, Kazal, a Grade Two winner at Naas on his last start, heads the 13 horses left in the Grade Three Toshiba Copier Novice Hurdle. Brave Inca's stable companion Sher Why Not is also a possible starter.
Betting on the AIG, Paddy Power:6-5 Brave Inca, 4 Hardy Eustace, 5 Iktitaf, 6 Macs Joy, 7 Jazz Messenger, 10 Asian Maze, 14 Lounaos, 20 Hide The Evidence, 100 Silent Oscar.
Cashmans:Evs Brave Inca, 5 Hardy Eustace and Macs Joy, 6 Lounaos, 7 Jazz Messenger, 10 Hide The Evidence, 100 Silent Oscar.
Betting on Baileys Arkle, Paddy Power:11-10 Schindlers Hunt, 7-2 King Johns Castle, 5 Conna Castle, 8 Khetaam, 10 Hear The Echo and Vintage Treasure, 16 Wanango and Young Desperado.
