Irish Champion next for Solwhit Solwhit remains firmly on track for a tilt at the Toshiba Irish Champion Hurdle after securing his second Grade One haul of the season over the Festive period. The Charles Byrnes-trained six-year-old was a brilliant winner on his return to action at Punchestown in November but could then only manage third in the Fighting Fifth at Newcastle. He bounced right back to his best to land the December Festival Hurdle at Leopardstown and a return to the track on January 24 is his next target. "Everything is good with him and we were obviously happy enough after Leopardstown. All being well he'll now head for the Irish Champion Hurdle and then hopefully on to Cheltenham, but we're just taking it one step at a time," said Byrnes. "He won't go to Aintree this year if he goes to Cheltenham as the two meetings are too close together, but hopefully he'll go on to Punchestown. "We just want to take each race as it comes at the moment, but he's in good form."
