Solerina can set the record straight
The remarkable mare has been a great money-spinner for the Bowe fammily and, essentially, the only thing missing from her CV is a victory over this trip.
She ran in the Stayers' Hurdle at Cheltenham last year, fading between the last two flights to finish a well beaten fourth behind Iris's Gift and Baracouda.
It would be wrong to judge the eight-year-old too harshly on that performance, because that was one of the hottest contests of its type ever run at Prestbury Park.
The only other time Solerina attempted three miles was in the Boyne Hurdle at Navan in the middle of February, when she fell at the sixth, race won by Emotional Moment.
Following that contest connections decided Solerina had gone over the top and she was given a decent break.
She was then brought back two weeks ago to contest a 14 furlongs flat race at Tipperary. Partnered by Nina Carberry, Solerina made no mistake to score by five lengths.
Shay Barry now rides her for the first time and, hopefully, it will be a marriage made in Heaven!
Howard Johnson's Akilak rates a solid wager to take the Colm McEvoy Auctioneers' Champion four-year-old Hurdle.
He found conditions too fast at Cheltenham, third to Penzance and Faasel in the Triumph Hurdle. This surface will be much more in his favour and the form was boosted when Faasel won easily at Aintree subsequently.
It is hard enough to know what to make of War Of Attrition at this stage, after a poor effort at Cheltenhan and a 16 lengths second to Ashley Brook at Aintree.
He did, however, stay on stoutly last time and, on soft ground, may be worth another chance in the Swordlestown Cup Novice Chase.
