'The nearest thing you could get to winning the lotto' - trainer pays tribute as Brave Inca dies aged 27

One of the best known and most loved Irish-trained Champion Hurdlers of all-time has died from colic at the age of 27.

Brave Inca won the opening day Cheltenham Festival feature in 2006, when ridden by AP McCoy, during a period of hurdling dominance from horses trained in Ireland.

He also won the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle two years earlier at the Festival, getting the better of future Gold Cup winner War Of Attrition in an epic battle up the famous hill.

The son of Good Thyne would compete in four Champion Hurdles in total, finishing third in 2005 and second to Sublimity when defending his title in 2007.

He also won the Punchestown and Leopardstown equivalents over the course of his decorated career where he picked up over €1 million in prize-money for his Novices Syndicate of owners.

His Wexford-based trainer Colm Murphy paid tribute to Brave Inca, describing the experience of overseeing the dual Cheltenham winner's career as "the nearest thing you could get to winning the lotto."

Alongside regular foes Hardy Eustace, Macs Joy and Harchibald, Brave Inca became a cult figure in a vintage era for two-mile hurdlers, as he took his then little known Gorey handler on an incredible journey to the top National Hunt racing.

He remained with Murphy following his retirement in 2009 until his death, with Murphy saying he will always be "indebted" to the winner of 10 Grade One contests and 15 races in total.

"He was an absolute gentleman and so good to us. I was very fortunate to get him at the start of my career and he was the nearest thing you could get to winning the lotto," said Murphy, who came out of retirement in recent times having stepped away from training for a number of years after Brave Inca's successes.

"No one could foresee the ride he would take us on, but it was phenomenal and I'm totally indebted to the horse.

"He's still the horse people most associate me with and he put me on that big racing stage which is so hard to get to, especially when you are just getting going and he was a joy of a horse in every sense. He had it all and he spoke for himself.

"He had plenty of class, but behind it all he was lazy. He would always come off the bridle and make it look like hard work but he was a very intelligent horse.

"He's been here ever since retirement and has been a total gentleman. He still looked a million dollars but age sadly wasn't on his side in the end."

Brave Inca is perhaps remembered most for his two triumphs at the Cheltenham Festival, seeing off subsequent Gold Cup winner War Of Attrition for Supreme Novices' glory in 2004 before returning two years later to cap a fine season by winning the Champion Hurdle in the hands of McCoy.

For Murphy, however, it was that day at Prestbury Park in March 2006 when rewarding favourite backers in typically gritty fashion that will always define Brave Inca.

"Cheltenham Champion Hurdle day was 'the day' you might say," said Murphy.

"He was favourite for a reason, but the expectations were so high and for him to deliver said it all about him, he was tough as teak.

"Without a doubt that would be a day I would like to relive again, along with all his other big races really.