Byrnes wary of Celestial threat

Charles Byrnes believes Solwhit has plenty on his plate if is to secure a third Grade One success of the season in the Toshiba Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown on Sunday.

The six-year-old ended the last campaign with top-level successes at Aintree and Punchestown, and picked up where he left off when defeating Muirhead and the currently injured Hurricane Fly on his comeback.

The gelding then finished third in the Fighting Fifth at Newcastle before returning to winning ways in the December Festival Hurdle, but Byrnes feels his charge faces his toughest task of the campaign as he locks horns with Paul Nicholls’ Celestial Halo at the weekend.

“He’s in good old form and we are hoping for the best, but I think he’ll have a proper test on Sunday,” said Byrnes.

“I know he’s won two Grade One races this season but Celestial Halo is going to be hard to beat as I’ve heard they have him in really good order.

“I know we beat him in Aintree last season but I wouldn’t read too much into that as he had already had a hard race at Cheltenham and we hadn’t.

“Celestial Halo was a close second in last year’s Champion Hurdle and we’ll have a better idea of where we are if we come through Sunday.”