Brave Inca heads entries in Maplewood Developments Morgiana Hurdle Punchestown's ?Winter Festival' takes place this Saturday, November 19th and Sunday November 20th and will witness some of the finest racing so far this season when Brave Inca makes his seasonal reappearance at the track. The ?70,000 Morgiana Hurdle sponsored this year by Maplewood Developments could become a 2006 Champion Hurdle dress rehearsal when Brave Inca, Harchibald and Macs Joy go head to head yet again. The Maplewood Developments sponsored Grade 2 event which has this year increased in value by ?23,000 has been earmarked by trainer Colm Murphy for his two stable stars, Brave Inca and Feathered Lady. Confirming that both horses are likely runners, Murphy stated 'This is a valuable race kindly sponsored by Maplewood Developments. There are not many opportunities for either of my two at this time and year and therefore this race fits very well into their schedule.'Michael Whelan, Managing Director of Maplewood Developments, delighted by the calibre of entrants in the race said 'It's great to be involved with a race of this quality. Being involved in racing myself, I realise how important good prize money is to the industry. It will be a pleasure to watch Brave Inca and Harchibald taking each other on again.'Another major sponsor venturing into race sponsorship for the first time is Volkswagen who have chosen Punchestown's ?Winter Festival' as the platform on which to re launch the Volkswagen Jetta.. The Gr 2 Craddockstown Novice Chase will be sponsored by the company who have aided in increasing the prize fund by ?13,000 to ?60,000. A race always targeted by promising novice chasers, this year's renewal is sure to keep up that trend with Justified and Mansony amongst the entries. Punchestown is set for a weekend packed with action when the Great Christmas Gift Exhibition also takes place in the Event Centre at the course. All race goers will gain free admission to the exhibition which takes opens at 11am throughout the weekend. Commenting on the busy weekend ahead, Dick O?Sullivan, Manager of Punchestown said 'We are eager to turn this weekend of racing into a mini ?festival' known as the ?Winter Festival' and with increased prize funds and new sponsors, we are a long way towards achieving that. The calibre of the racing is super and that will create a real buzz about the place throughout the weekend. Race goers will also get an opportunity to get some of their Christmas shopping done with complimentary admission to the Gift Fair in our Event Centre.'Racing commences on Saturday, November 19th and Sunday November 20th at 12.45pm. The feature race on Saturday's card is the ?38,500 Grade 3 Irish Field Novices Chase and on Sunday is the ?70,000 Grade 2 Maplewood Developments Morgiana Hurdle
