Brave Inca landed his tenth Grade One race when putting up a typically tough performance to take the Toshiba Irish Champion Hurdle at the age of eleven. Muirhead loomed up as a serious challenger approaching the last, but Ruby Walsh kept the veteran up to his work and he stayed on strongly to win by 3/4 length.

Trainer Colm Murphy said: 'I was worried turning for home that Muirhead was travelling so well, but when our fella pricked his ears coming down to the last I knew he had more in the tank.'