01-05-2009

I presume that the market is taking United as a guide (here). Quevega beat her by 14 lengths at Cheltenham, getting 2lb, Solwhit beat her by three lengths at Aintree, giving her 7lb, Solwhit has to give Quevega 5lb today, so Quevega comes out the better horse. However, I suspect that United performed a lot better at Aintree than she did at Cheltenham. They all finished in a heap behind Quevega at Cheltenham, and it wasn’t that strong a race, whereas the Aintree race had real strength in-depth, with Fiveforthree, Al Eile and Catch Me finishing second, fourth and fifth respectively, with United finishing third.

That was a hell of a performance by Solwhit. He and Fiveforthree travelled best of all down the home straight, and it looked like developing into a match between the pair of them from some way out, which it duly did, but Solwhit showed the better turn of foot on the run-in after jumping the last flight a little awkwardly and handing the initiative to the Mullins horse. The form of that race received a decent boost yesterday with Fiveforthree dancing in in the World Series Hurdle.

That performance from Solwhit wasn’t a flash in the pan either. He had the potential to do something like that, and he is a genuine Champion Hurdle contender for next season. You can easily ignore his defeat by Ninetieth Minute at Thurles in December, as they walked for the first mile of that three-horse race, which wasn’t suitable at all, and actually subsequent events have proven that Ninetieth Minute is a hugely talented performer in his own right. Solwhit is reported to be in fine form, he won at this meeting last year over today’s course and distance, he acts on the ground, and he is another really exciting prospect. It is difficult to choose between him and Quevega, but one is 2/1 and the other is 100/30, so there is no doubt where the value lies.

SOLWHIT WON (ADV 100/30, SP 2/1)