THURLES REPORT: IT'S BACK to the drawing board for Solwhit after his defeat at the hands of Ninetieth Minute in the Horse and Jockey Hotel Hurdle at Thurles yesterday.

Charles Byrnes' November Handicap winner was supposed to take on Binocular and company in the Boylesports.com International at Cheltenham last week, before that race was lost to the weather.

But on the evidence of this performance the 1 to 3 shot would have found it tough going in that company, as he went down to Tom Taaffe's charge (3 to 1) by three-quarters of a length.

"We knew the favourite was basically a two-mile horse on the flat and generally they need a trip over jumps, although maybe Solwhit is an exception to that," said Taaffe.

"We decided to make the running, go no gallop and quicken from halfway. He jumped well, he's tough and stays. He'll be better on good jumping ground.

"I'm delighted for the owner as he's not only a great supporter of mine but of racing in general. (The horse) will come back in the spring and go chasing next year."

Byrnes said of the beaten favourite: "I'm disappointed, he never travelled at all, it was a culmination of bad ground and a few quick runs, I think.

"You don't become a bad horse overnight and I'm hopeful he'll bounce back."

There was better luck for Byrnes with Dromin Hill Echo (7 to 1), who won the Molony Cup Handicap Chase.

"He's improved and his form worked out well the last day. We'll run under a penalty at Limerick over Christmas now," said the trainer.

"In point-to-points it was hard to find a rider after four falls in a row, but we don't have that problem now."