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French options for Solwhit

SolwhitSolwhit
© Photo Healy Racing

Three races in France are among the possible options for Solwhit following his victory at Naas on Saturday.

The French Champion Hurdle at Auteuil in June plus earlier events over two-miles-three-furlongs and two-miles-five-furlongs are likely to be considered for the nine-year-old.

The Ladbrokes World Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in March and the Aintree Hurdle on Merseyside in April are the obvious targets nearer home for Charles Byrnes' stable star.

The County Limerick trainer was delighted Solwhit got his head in front for the first time since November 2010 following a long lay-off but is not getting carried away by his performance to win the Grade Three Limestone Lad Hurdle.

"It was good to get him back. He's been in the paddock all morning. His legs are fine and that's the main thing," said Byrnes.

"It was nice to win, but you'd have been disappointed if he didn't do it at the weights. He still had to go out and do it though.

"He probably still ran to a mark higher than 145 or something like that, I imagine, but we're delighted he got on the scoresheet because it's a long time since he won.

"He's going to get a complete break for a week.

"I don't know what we will do with him. He's entered in the World Hurdle and Aintree would be a possibility as would France after that.

"There would be another race in France before their Champion Hurdle in June. I never mentioned the French Champion Hurdle yesterday, I just mentioned France.

"There are three opportunities over there - a two-mile-three and a two-mile-five as well.

"The two-mile-three is towards the end of April and I entered Pittoni for that last year, but we won't decide anything for a couple of weeks.

"He's nine now so we don't want to give him too busy a schedule. We'll look after him and try to get another season out of him."