Toshiba Irish Champion Hurdle Preview

Solwhit, Celestial Halo and Sublimity clash in a mouth-watering renewal of the Toshiba Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown on Sunday.

Charles Byrnes believes Solwhit has plenty on his plate if he's to secure a third Grade 1 success of the season following top level victories this term at Punchestown and here last month in the Leopardstown Golf December Festival Hurdle.

The Co. Limerick trainer is under no illusion of the task facing his charge locking horns among others with Paul Nicholls' Celestial Halo at the weekend.

"He's in good old form and we are hoping for the best, but I think he'll have a proper test on Sunday," said Byrnes.

"I know he's won two Grade 1 races this season but Celestial Halo is going to be hard to beat as I've heard they have him in really good order."

"I know we beat him in Aintree last season but I wouldn't read too much into that as he had already had a hard race at Cheltenham and we hadn't. Celestial Halo was a close second in last year's Champion Hurdle and we'll have a better idea of where we are if we come through Sunday."

Nicholls feels Celestial Halo has plenty in his favour for what will be a final warm-up ahead of a second tilt at the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham in March.

"The big galloping track at Leopardstown is made for him and the ground will also suit. He will go straight to Cheltenham after this and it looks a perfect race for him," said Nicholls.

However Sublimity's trainer Robbie Hennessy will leave it until the last minute before confirming his participation in the feature.

The 2007 Champion Hurdle hero has been in good nick this season having finished second in the Fighting Fifth and again behind Solwhit here at Christmas but he has never appreciated heavy ground.

"I'm going to leave it as late as I can, they got 15mm of rain last night but it's like a summer's day here today," said Hennessy.

"The forecast is good up to next Tuesday. There's a maiden hurdle before it on Sunday so we might have a look after that. It's looking like a two-horse race between Solwhit and Celestial Halo and I don't want to kill the old boy on heavy ground, it could do him more harm than good."

"He's been in great form this year, very consistent and at home on the gallops he's working as well as ever and I'm delighted with him. If he doesn't run we'll go straight to Cheltenham. I don't want to take him over to England again and the Red Mills is usually run on heavy ground too."

Donnas Palm comes into the race in fantastic form having won his last three starts over hurdles, although trainer Noel Meade admits he faces his toughest task to date.

"He's earned a crack at it but it's obviously a good race and it's a step up for him," said Meade.

"Everything has gone well this season and he should go in the ground all right. I think he handles most ground and he stays well so that should suit him. It will be interesting to see how he gets on, and this well help us decide where we can go with him."

Bahrain Storm, de Valira, Won In The Dark and Torphichen complete the eight declared for the two miles showpiece.