THE veteran dual Champion Hurdle winner Hardy Eustace and Colm Murphy's 2006 Cheltenham hero Brave Inca will be attempting to roll back the years at Fairyhouse this afternoon when they line-out for the Bar One Racing Hatton's Grace Hurdle, which is one of three Grade One races on the card.

The duo have engaged in some memorable battles over the years but they could prove vulnerable to a younger set of legs, those of Edward O'Grady's improving campaigner Catch Me. The six-year-old was an impressive winner of the Lismullen Hurdle earlier this month and it will be no surprise to see him put it up to his two rivals.

Brave Inca has been off the track for the past 18 months with a slight tendon injury and that will surely count against him here. He requires a lot of 'stoking' from the saddle at the best of times and his trainer conceded "He's as ready as we can get him at home and seems as good as ever but, knowing him, he'll benefit from the run and will no doubt improve."

The Dessie Hughes-trained Hardy Eustace, meanwhile, is still going strong at the age of 11 and showed his younger rivals just how it should be done when capturing the Grade One Maplewood Developments Hurdle at Punchestown two weeks ago. His handler commented earlier this week "He's not done much since Punchestown but he's come out of the race exceptionally well."

O'Grady has a good chance of completing a Grade One double through Tranquil Sea in the Drinmore Novice Chase. The ante-post favourite Aran Concerto was ruled out on Friday following an unsatisfactory work-out and his defection leaves the way clear for Tranquil Sea, Forpaddydeplasterer and Trafford Lad, who is bidding for a hat-trick over fences, to fight out the finish.

There shouldn't be too much between the trio at the end but Tranquil Sea, who pleased his handler when making a successful chasing debut at Cork, is preferred. Trainer Noel Meade can gain compensation for Aran Concerto's absence through the unbeaten Donnas Palm in the Royal Bond Novice Hurdle.

Cheltenham and Punchestown Champion bumper scorer Cousin Vinny, who is making his hurdling debut in this event, poses an obvious danger, along with the well-regarded pair Vital Plot and Tramp Stamp.

Due to the cold snap, officials will inspect the course this morning at 7.30 before finally deciding on whether today's card will go ahead.