Brave Inca will bid to build on a promising reappearance when he tackles Grade One company for the first time this winter in the Ballymore Properties Hatton's Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse on Sunday.
A leading novice last season, the six-year-old landed the Champion Novice Hurdle at the Punchestown Festival, hot on the heels of his victory in the Supreme Novices' at Cheltenham.
Trainer Colm Murphy now plans to run the gelding in this weekend's two-and-a-half-mile contest, where he will face a maximum of five rivals, although a clash with reigning champion hurdler Hardy Eustace has been put on hold after the latter failed to scope clean today.
"All being well he will run," Murphy said. "He is in great order and I couldn't be happier with him."
Brave Inca had the first start of his campaign when finishing a length behind Macs Joy - to whom he was conceding 10lb - at Down Royal earlier this month. However, Murphy had warned that his star may lack match practice and the County Wexford-based handler feels he will strip fitter on his second start.
"He will have come on for his run in Down Royal," said Murphy. "We left a fair bit to work on from there and he will have improved for it. We were delighted with his run, though. He did everything asked of him, wasn't knocked about and I couldn't have been happier with him."
The Hatton's Grace had been a comeback target for the Dessie Hughes-trained Hardy Eustace, who beat Rooster Booster at both Cheltenham and Punchestown earlier this year.
The seven-year-old is generally favourite to retain his hurdlers' crown but will not be seen out until December.
"He did his last piece of work this morning and didn't scope clean afterwards so we're not running on Sunday," said Curragh-based Hughes. "Hopefully it's not that bad and won't take too long to clear.
"We will have to see with him now, there is a race at Navan on the 12th for him (Giltspur Scientific Hurdle), or it will be Leopardstown at Christmas (December Festival Hurdle)."
However, Brave Inca will clash with the top-class mare Solerina, who was backed down to even-money favouritism with Cashmans today. The seven-year-old is likely to be joined by her stablemate Florida Coast, while other possibles are Noel Meade's Power Elite, the Edward O'Grady-trained Sacundai and Rule Supreme from the Willie Mullins yard.
There are two other Grade One events on the Fairyhouse card - the Sharp Minds Betfair Royal Bond Novice Hurdle and the Pierse Group Drinmore Novice Chase.
But only seven runners have been declared for the latter race and general manager of Fairyhouse, Dick Sheil, has expressed his disappointment with the turnout for two of the three big races
"We bend over backwards putting on extra meetings to accommodate trainers, and I'm disappointed for the sponsors with the turnout for both the Hatton's Grace and Drinmore Chase from what looked a very satisfactory initial entry," he said. "These two races are worth €90,000 each and it would leave you perplexed."