SOLWHIT COULD become the first since the legendary Istabraq to win back-to-back renewals of the BHP Insurance Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown on Sunday but trainer Charles Byrnes reckons his star faces a mammoth task against Hurricane Fly.
The old rivals are among a small but select entry of seven horses left in the €110,000 Grade One after yesterday’s forfeit stage although the top English performer Peddlers Cross is more likely to take up an easier option at Haydock the day before.
That will result in an all-Irish contest which will see Hurricane Fly attempt to copper-fasten his position as Ireland’s top contender for the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham in March.
Bookmakers have installed the Willie Mullins-trained star as their heavy odds-on market leader for Sunday’s contest which the champion trainer has yet to win in his illustrious career but he reported yesterday: “I’m very happy with the horse going into the race.”
There is already a scratching from Sunday’s race, however, as last night Philip Fenton ruled out last season’s leading novice Dunguib. “Unfortunately he’s going to miss Sunday. We blood tested him this morning and it is not quite up to scratch so we are going to have to divert. The Red Mills at Gowran is the next assignment. Thankfully it’s nothing serious. It will set him back 10 days or so,” Fenton said.
That means Hurricane Fly’s main opponent is again likely to be Solwhit who currently trails his rival 1-3 in their career showdowns to date. Solwhit impressively landed the Irish Champion in 2010 but his team this time are resigned to facing a tougher task against Hurricane Fly who has already beaten them twice this season.
“Solwhit is going to run in the Irish Champion. He has come out of the Paddy Power Festival Hurdle very well when the race turned into a sprint. He would have preferred more of a gallop, although he would still not have beaten Hurricane Fly, but they would then probably have been a long way ahead of the third,” Byrnes said.
He added: “The chances of beating Hurricane Fly on Sunday are very, very slim as Hurricane appears to be settling better in his races now and he is much better at the end of his races than he previously was.
“But there is good prize-money – €22,000 for second place – but that won’t be easy as there are a few other good ones in it. It looks a cracking race.”
The 2007 Cheltenham Champion Hurdle winner Sublimity regained winning form on his last start at Cork and could again take his chance while Willie Mullins has also left in his County Hurdle winner Thousand Stars.
The grey finished fourth to his stable companion and Solwhit on his first start of the season at Leopardstown over Christmas.
Sunday’s other Grade One prize is the Frank Ward Solicitors Arkle Novice Chase which could see a rematch between the principals of the Christmas Grade One won three weeks ago by Realt Dubh.
Noel Meade’s runner took advantage of the last fence fall of Saludos to beat Noble Prince and all three figure among the 10 entries left in yesterday. Meade last won the €80,000 event with Frozen Groom 11 years ago.
Ground conditions at Leopardstown yesterday were officially “soft” but some improvement is expected by Sunday with mainly dry weather forecast for the week.
IRISH CHAMPION HURDLE BETTING (Paddy Power):1-2 Hurricane Fly, 5-2 Solwhit, 12 Voler La Vedette, 20 Sublimity, 25 Thousand Stars.
