'BRAVE INCA', the former champion hurdle winner at Cheltenham, was back at the horse show at the RDS last weekend as he attempted to defend his title in the race horse to riding horse class.

Also in attendance amongst the 20 entries were 'Hardy Eustace', 'Harchibald', 'Beef or Salmon', ' War of Attrition' and 'Adamant Approach' in addition to other well-known former racing stars.

This class at the show is aimed at extending the life of former race horses with the emphasis on their acclimatisation to leisure riding and gentle hacking.

'Brave Inca' was trained by Colm Murphy to win numerous Grade 1 races which included two victories at Cheltenham in the Champion Hurdle as well as the Supreme Novice.

Still in the care of Murphy, last year's winner of this class continues to thrive in Murphy's Killenagh yard.

Dessie Hughes and Lar Byrne still have care of 'Hardy Eustace', while Noel Meade retains ownership of 'Harchibald'.

One of the most intriguing entries was 'Beef or Salmon', with the former top-class chaser being ridden by Michael Hourigan who had the training of him during his racing days.

This really was a star-studded class at the horse show and it's wonderful to see such household names still in the limelight.

POINT TO POINT

In last week's report of the new point-topoint season for 2010-'11, I may have inadvertently listed the wrong date for some of the forthcoming meetings.

Just to recap, the autumn fixture list in the south-east starts on October 10 with the Shilleagh and District Foxhounds.

October will also see the Killinick Harriers stage their meeting on the 31st, with the Kilkenny Foxhounds opening November on the 7th of the month.

This will be followed by the Island Hunt on November 14, with the Wexford Foxhounds completing the list on November 21.

Technically still in the south-east, the Tipperary Foxhounds will stage their autumn meeting at Lisronagh on November 28.

REVIEW OF THE WEEK

Jim Bolger, the Master of Coolcullen, finished the Galway festival on a high note with a victory for 'Hasty Katie' under Kevin Manning at 9/2.

This ' Whipper' two-year-old filly is jointly owned by June Judd and Jackie Bolger and won this maiden decisively.

On the concluding day, Aidan O'Brien picked up a nice win with the beautifullybred ' Dance On By' under Seán Levey. This 5/1 winner, a daughter of 'Sadler's Wells', will hopefully make a significant impact in the breeding sheds.

O'Brien introduced a nice two-year-old at Naas on August 2 when 'Lake Ontario', a colt by ' Johannesburg', comfortably won his maiden under Johnny Murtagh at 4/1. Hopes must be high that this Americanbred colt will live up to this promise.

Continuing his good form, O'Brien had a lovely double of winners at Leopardstown on August 5.

Both ridden by Johnny Murtagh, they kicked off with another two-year-old winner, this time the 5/4-on favourite 'Alexander Pope'.

This 'Danehill Dancer' colt just kept on to win by a short head. It is hard to know just where he will progress from this, but his career will no doubt be interesting.

Their second winner came in the shape of 'Amber Grey', a three-year-old colt by 'Galileo'. This colt won his race comfortably at 3/1 and could be seen over jumps later in the season.

Down at Tipperary on August 6, O'Brien joined forces with his son, Joseph, to take the five furlong, two-year-old maiden with 'Tom Sawyer'.

This 3/1 favourite, a son of 'Dansili', held on strongly to win when pulling clear of the rest of the field.

Meanwhile, over in Kilbeggan, Michael Cullen made the long trip from his yard in Rathgarogue a successful one, forging success with 'Carrighmore Mollie' in the bumper.

Ridden by Martin Doran, this five-year-old 'Milan' mare showed significant improvement from her first run in Gowran Park to win in the colours of Lawrence Devereux. This was Doran's first winner as a conditional jockey and the two-mile trip on good ground seemed to suit the mare.

DIARY DATES

Racing: August 11, Gowran Park (e); August 12, Leopardstown (e), Tramore (e); August 13, Tramore (e); August 14, Tramore (e); August 15, Dundalk, Tramore; August 16, Roscommon (e); August 17, Killarney (e); August 18, Killarney (e).

- with DICK WHITE