News: The James Bowe team yesterday gave an upbeat bulletin on the star mare Solerina ahead of her attempt to confound the sceptics in Sunday's AIG Europe Irish Champion Hurdle.
Solerina's limitations at two miles looked to be exposed over Christmas when she finished behind Macs Joy at Leopardstown. However, she will return to the Dublin track and again take on the cream of Ireland's two milers at the weekend.
"She probably isn't fancied by a lot of people but you only get one chance at a race like that and there is no point leaving her at home," said Bowe's son Michael yesterday.
"She is in right order and the forecast is for broken weather so the ground should be okay and if they run it on an outside track it will make it a more galloping race. She deserves her chance."
The Cheltenham favourite Harchibald is quoted at 5 to 2 "with a run" by Cashmans and his trainer Noel Meade intends to leave a decision on running until as late as possible due to concerns about the ground.
"If it's a dry week he probably will run but if the ground turned up soft or heavy he probably wouldn't go," said his jockey Paul Carberry.
The going at Leopardstown is currently "yielding to soft" which could also be less than ideal for the Paul Nolan-trained Accordion Etoile. Nolan plans to work his Cheltenham winner at the Curragh over the next couple of days in preparation for the AIG but has stated that if the going is heavy he would contemplate switching Accordion Etoile to Newbury next month for the Tote Gold Trophy.
BETTING: (Cashmans): 6-4 Macs Joy, 7-4 Brave Inca, 3 Solerina, 7 Georges Girl, 10 Power Elite, 12 Sunspot. (Cashmans also bet): "With a run" 5-2 Harchibald, 7-2 Hardy Eustace, 5 Accordion Etoile.
