Solstice Lives up to his Billing

Back In Front's brother, Solstice Knight justified all the notebook entries he received with his Leopardstown debut effort when taking the Mirror Group Maiden Hurdle to complete a double for Edward O'Grady and Andrew McNamara. They had earlier teamed up with Catch Me in the Boyne Hurdle.

O'Grady said of the six length winner: "The reason he is called Solstice Knight is because the two owners (Dermot Cox and Nelius Hayes) and the horse were all born on Solstice Day (21st of June). He is so different to his full-brother and he has the real cut of a chaser. He is entered at Cheltenham but I don't know if he'll go there. He had a bit of leg trouble as a four-year-old." (EM)