Murphy: Inca will stay

Colm Murphy anticipates a bold run from Brave Inca when he tackles three miles

for the first time at Punchestown on Thursday - but admits the calibre of

opposition sets a stiff examination.

Murphy's stable star will run in the Dunboyne Castle Hotel & Spa Champion

Stayers' Hurdle, in which he is set to lock horns with impressive Aintree winner

Mighty Man.

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"There's no question about it, it's a hell of a race. I think if it was at

Leopardstown or at Cheltenham then we'd be running over two miles again,"

Murphy said.

"It's just a case of Punchestown being a sharp two miles and I think the

three miles round there will be fine.

"We're not afraid of any horse - we're more afraid of the track rather than

anything else and we've just found over the years that things happen a bit quick

for him at Punchestown.

"It's a first for us, but I don't think there is any question of him not

getting it (the trip)."

Tony McCoy formed a strong partnership with Brave Inca over the last couple of

years, but Ruby Walsh has taken the reins twice this season.

Walsh will again be on board, although Murphy stresses no permanent riding

arrangements have been made for the future.

"Ruby Walsh will ride him. There's no change as such, but Ruby won a

Christmas Hurdle (December Festival Hurdle, Leopardstown) on him and he was

second at Cheltenham and he is available," he told At The Races.

"There was never any fall out and it's great to have either of them on board

- we're lucky to have them to ride."