Solwhit flies past Hurricane
Sunday, 15 November 2009 22:21Hurricane Fly fluffed his lines as Solwhit quickened right away from his rivals to run out a hugely impressive winner of the Dobbins & Madigans at Punchestown Hurdle.
The five-year-old travelled kindly for Davy Russell in behind rivals as Muirhead cut out much of the running in the Grade One contest.
There were three virtually in line jumping the final obstacle but it was Solwhit (7-4) who showed the best turn of foot to score by two and a half lengths.
Muirhead kept on for second while Hurricane Fly, who had been ante-post for next year's Champion Hurdle following an unbeaten novice campaign, could only finish third.
Delighted winning trainer Charles Byrnes said: 'He was impressive there. If we weren't going to beat Hurricane Fly today we never were.
'My lad doesn't take a lot of work to get him right. I was delighted with the pace of the race and he loves coming between horses.
'He's entered in the Fighting Fifth at Newcastle and that's in two weeks' time, which is a problem.
'If he doesn't go there we'll wait and run him over Christmas.'
