Solerina Aiming For Double Solerina will bid for a second success in the Cedar Building Hurdle at Naas tomorrow. The James Bowe-trained nine-year-old won the two-mile-three-furlong contest in 2004 when it was run under another name and connections expect her to figure prominently again. Bowe´s son and assistant, Michael, told At The Races: 'She runs tomorrow in Naas and hopefully she can do herself justice. 'She seems in good form and she´s looking a picture and eating well so I can see no reason to leave her at home. 'She´s back to her favourite trip and one of her favourite tracks as well - it looks competitive enough though.' Solerina notched up a quick hat-trick in November and December before finishing fourth in the Christmas Hurdle at Leopardstown over three miles. Bowe said: 'We always wondered and hoped she might get three miles. I don´t see any reasons why but obviously she doesn´t stay three miles so we´re not going to attempt that distance again with her. 'She´s one of these mares, and there´s quite a lot of them in the country, where two miles is a bit short and three miles is a bit long - they are specifically two-and-a-half-mile, or thereabouts, animals.' Bowe has ruled out stepping back in trip for the AIG Europe Champion Hurdle later this month but he is now facing a lack of options for his stable star. He added: 'She´s been caught out over two miles at the top level and she just doesn´t get the three so really we made up our minds to stick to the two-and-a-half-mile trip with her from now on. 'Unfortunately towards the end of the season, there is a shortage of two-and-a-half-mile races, your options are limited.' Bowe may consider bringing Solerina over to Aintree for a race at the John Smith´s Grand National meeting but he is concerned that she may be past her best by April. 'We will consider it (Aintree). Having said that, she seems to peak early every year. She peaks and wins races then tails off towards the second half of the season and that seems to be the routine with her,' Bowe continued. 'Hopefully that won´t affect her tomorrow - we will play that one by ear.' Stablemate Florida Coast is one of four to oppose Solerina tomorrow along with Up Above, Biennale and Star Performance. ? PA Sport
