Solita sizzles in Wexford sun

Solita, locally trained by Paul Nolan, gave punters plenty to cheer about in sunny Wexford yesterday as she came from last to first under Luke Dempsey to justify favouritism in the Courtown Rated Novice Hurdle.

The experiment of racing left-handed received a general thumbs-up from jockeys, trainers and officials, with the new direction, and the presence of two hurdles and fences in the straight, providing more of a stamina test than the original configuration of the track.

Teething problems will have to be rectified if this arrangement is to become permanent, particularly getting the approval of the Flat jockeys — it is understood that there will be Flat trials on the track on Friday.