Brave Inca, one of the most talented hurdlers of the 2000s, has died of colic at the age of 27. The horse, trained by Colm Murphy in County Wexford, was best known for winning the 2006 Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival under Sir AP McCoy.
During his career, Brave Inca raced 35 times, winning 15 races, ten of which were at Grade 1 level. He began his career over hurdles but showed early promise in National Hunt bumpers, winning two. He then returned to hurdles, landing five consecutive races in the 2003-4 season, including the Supreme Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham and the Champion Novice Hurdle at Punchestown.
In the senior ranks, Brave Inca finished second four times and third in the 2005 Champion Hurdle before defeating Harchibald in the Punchestown Champion Hurdle with McCoy aboard. The partnership peaked with their 2006 Champion Hurdle victory over Macs Joy and Hardy Eustace. Brave Inca also finished runner-up in the 2007 Champion Hurdle under Ruby Walsh.
After retirement, Brave Inca remained with Murphy, who described him as 'an absolute gentleman'. Murphy told the Racing Post: 'Unfortunately, Brave Inca passed away this morning. He had been fantastic all through his retirement with me but just picked up colic and we sadly lost him to it.'
Murphy added: 'He was the nearest thing you could get to winning the lotto. No one could foresee the ride he would take us on, but it was phenomenal and I'm totally indebted to the horse.'
