Byrnes to risk Solwhit

by Nick Royle , 13 March 2010

Solwhit will travel over to England for Tuesday's Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle.


Trainer Charles Byrnes had suggested that the five-time Grade One winner could be a doubt after suffering coughing earlier in the week, but has decided to risk the six-year-old.

"I've made a decision and he's travelling over," said Byrnes.

"He scoped clean earlier this morning so he will travel over tonight but obviously we will be monitoring him closely."

Solwhit won the Aintree Hurdle at the Grand National meeting last year and has kept up that good form in a succession of top races, losing only the slow-paced Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle.

Byrnes went on: "It was very strange because he didn't go off his food and looked well in himself, it was just that he was coughing.

"There was no virus or anything, none of the other horses have coughed so it really is a bit of a mystery.

"Obviously it is not ideal to have something like this happen so close to the Champion Hurdle but he seems fine now.

"He'll be monitored on the journey there and when he gets there but the intention is to run and as long as he's 100 percent he will.

"He's travelling over with Pittoni (Triumph Hurdle) and Weapon's Amnesty (RSA Chase) so we've got three decent chances."

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