Solwhit to go for World Hurdle

Solwhit is set to take his chance in the Ladbrokes World Hurdle at Cheltenham on Thursday week after pleasing trainer Charles Byrnes in a gallop on Saturday.

Despite being sidelined by injury for the best part of two years, the six-time Grade One winner has returned seemingly as good as ever, building on a promising comeback run behind Bog Warrior with an impressive victory at Naas.

"He galloped on Saturday. He worked adequately, it was nothing spectacular, but we were happy enough," said Byrnes.

"At the moment, we are planning to go to Cheltenham with him. I can't say he'll definitely be there, as with him, every day is a bonus, but we are looking that way now.

"I've been saying all along we'd probably miss Cheltenham and wait for Aintree, but now we're thinking the Aintree race could turn out to be a better race than the World Hurdle.

"He wasn't fully right after his last run, he missed two or three weeks, but he seems in good form now."

Having never encountered a distance beyond two and a half miles, Byrnes admits only time will tell whether Solwhit's stamina will last out of three miles at Prestbury Park.

"The trip is obviously a worry. We know he stays two and a half miles well but three miles, we don't know," said the trainer

"I'm hopeful, but I couldn't be confident. We'll wait until the last minute before deciding on who will ride him. We'll see who is available and then make a decision."