Solerina remains on course for AIG
The James Bowe-trained mare needs soft ground to compete with the best over two miles, as shown on her latest start when she was only fourth to Macs Joy in the December Festival Hurdle.
“Solerina is in good form for the race next week. The forecast is for more rain so the ground should be okay,” said the trainer’s son and assistant, Michael Bowe.
That was echoed by her rider Gary Hutchinson, who told At The Races: “There’s more rain forecast during the week which is going to be a help.
“She’s entitled to take her chance on that ground and there aren’t many more opportunities for her this season.
“The trainers of horses like Accordion Etoile and Harchibald won’t want their horses having a very hard race on soft ground. They have alternative routes to go.”
The Noel Meade-trained Harchibald could miss the race if the ground is unsuitable.
“If it’s a dry week he probably will run but if the ground turned up soft or heavy he probably wouldn’t go,” said his jockey Paul Carberry.
Reigning champion hurdler Hardy Eustace will continue on the path to a Cheltenham defence by taking in the AIG, although jockey Conor O’Dwyer was hardly bursting with enthusiasm yesterday.
The Dessie Hughes-trained eight-year-old will be trying to reverse course and distance form with Macs Joy and Brave Inca, having finished third to that pair in the Festival Hurdle over Christmas.
“The ground is probably going to be against him, it will be deep enough there I’d say,” O’Dwyer told At The Races.
“But I was talking to Dessie last night and he said he was in fantastic form and had come out of his last race well.
“It’s going to be hard to beat Macs Joy and even Brave Inca but hopefully he will put up a good run and we’ll go on from there.s
“He wasn’t running as well last year as he is now and I was quite happy with him last time even though he got beat because Macs Joy is a quicker horse around there than Hardy Eustace.
“We’ll look for a good run and hopefully March 16 will be his day.”
