Brave Inca was denied the successful comeback he so richly deserved as a rejuvenated Catch Me staged a late rally in the Bar One Racing Hatton's Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse.

The 2006 Champion Hurdle hero was making his first racecourse appearance for 18 months in a race brimming with quality, and the 10-year-old came close to pulling off a miraculous return in the two-and-a-half-mile event.

The winner of nine Grade One events, he belied his starting price of 12-1 by travelling smoothly into the closing stages under new pilot Davy Russell.

Colm Murphy's battle-hardened warrior then laid it down his old adversary Hardy Eustace and the pair looked set to fight out the sort of spine-tingling finish to which their legions of fans have become accustomed.

Hardy Eustace eventually gave way but the race was far from over as Andrew McNamara was closing all the while aboard Edward O'Grady's Catch Me.

The recent Lismullen Hurdle winner collared Brave Inca over the last and had to fight for his life as Russell's mount staged another revival close to the line.

It wasn't quite enough, however, and a length and a half separated the pair passing the post, with Hardy Eustace seven lengths adrift in third.

A delighted Murphy said: "He did all we could have asked of him. He travelled and jumped and it is hard to believe that was his first run back.

"We'll head for the Christmas Hurdle at Leopardstown and see where we go from there and if he improves as much as I think he will then he is really something to look forward to."

Paddy Power introduced Brave Inca into the Champion Hurdle market at 20-1, while Cashmans offer 25s and Stan James the same price about his chance in the Ladbrokes World Hurdle.

The veteran has only tackled the three-mile trip of the latter once, and finished sixth in the 2007 stayers' hurdle at Punchestown under Ruby Walsh.

Murphy added: "Ruby rang me after the stayers' hurdle at Punchestown and said he definitely does stay."

Possessing the required stamina to stay three miles is one questionable attribute of Catch Me, but O'Grady may experiment with the trip over the festive period.

He said: "He is a different horse this year and is jumping much better, the fact I've schooled him over fences has obviously stood him in good stead.

"We had him treated for an allergy after last year and the vets did an amazing job.

"The Boyne Hurdle at Navan is an option as well as a couple of options at Leopardstown over Christmas.

"He could go back to two miles or we could try three miles again to help make up my mind if he stays.

"We have only tried it once and that was at Punchestown last year at the end of a long season, and when he wasn't right."

William Hill quote Catch Me, who was sixth in last year's Champion Hurdle, at 16-1 for the 2009 renewal and also make him a 20-1 chance for the Ladbrokes World Hurdle.

Fairyhouse executives were delighted with the weekend.

Racecourse manager Caroline Gray said: "The sun came out and we had a beautiful day for it, even if it was a little cold.

"Nearly 5,000 people came racing today, and they have been treated to some fantastic racing."