Brave Inca has cost the layers thousands over the years - but Irish bookie Ciaran O'Tierney could not care less. To him, the 11-year-old is one in a million.

O'Tierney, an on-course bookmaker at the main tracks in Ireland, cannot believe his luck at heading the Novices Syndicate, proud owners of the 2006 Champion Hurdle winner.

"When he runs, I don't offer odds on the race, I just go and watch him run," said O'Tierney, whose syndicate includes his brothers Eoin and Fionan and their father, Fergus.

"I think he's probably cost the bookmakers money over the years.

"We have backed him on odd occasions, but I'm not a big punter.

"He's been a thorn in the side of the bookmaking fraternity in Ireland.

"When he won the Supreme Novices' he was very heavily backed, just like he was when he won the Champion Hurdle.

"We all plan to be at Cheltenham again and it will probably be the last time we come over for Brave Inca."

Winner of 15 of his 33 races, including 10 Grade Ones, Brave Inca will be making his fifth appearance at the Cheltenham Festival as he looks to take his prize-money haul over the £1million barrier.

He landed the Supreme Novices' in 2004, was third in the 2005 Champion Hurdle, won the race in 2006 and was second in 2007 - an amazing record for a horse that cost just 14,000 euros in 2001.

"When he won the Supreme Novices' he beat War Of Attrition, who went on to win the Gold Cup," added O'Tierney.

"The two of them pulled a long way clear - it was one of the great races.

"He went close in the Champion Hurdle a year later with Hardy Eustace and Harchibald just pipping him.

"There was nothing between them on the day - three great horses.

"He won it the year after from Macs Joy and Hardy Eustace, then the year after he was second to Sublimity."

When the horse was injured later that season, the syndicate believed their love affair with Cheltenham was over.

After being off the track for 19 months, Brave Inca had other ideas.

The Colm Murphy-trained gelding has come back as good as ever, culminating with victory in the Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown in January - his first success since December 2006.

"He was injured last year but it thankfully it wasn't too bad and he's come back better than we could have hoped for," O'Tierney continued.

"It's a long shot now - he's getting on in years - but he's in great form.

"We didn't really have it in mind to go to Cheltenham when he came back from injury.

"We hadn't really planned it in that regard but he's come back so well that he's deciding for us to go.

"He's been wonderful - 10 Grade Ones, two wins at Cheltenham and been placed there. He's done it all.

"Being realistic, this time we'd be delighted with a place. Very few of his age win a Champion Hurdle, but he's entitled to take his chance.

"If it was soft ground it would help him and bring his stamina into play more.

"Binocular is very good and you'd have to say he'd be very hard to beat, but he's a short price. Other than Binocular there's at least six in with a chance.

"It's been a privilege to have been involved with him over the years and Colm Murphy has done a wonderful job.

"He's gutsy he tries hard and he never knows when he's beat, he's very consistent and we think he'll run a sound race."

You can certainly bet on that.