SOLWHIT trained at Ballingarry, Co Limerick by Charles Byrnes and brilliantly ridden by Youghal jockey Davy Russell, was a hughly impressive winner of The Toshiba Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown on Sunday last, and is now clear favourite, for the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham in march.

This was his fifth grade 1 win, and he showed on Sunday that he has all the right credentials for his next major assignment.

The concluding bumper at Leopardstown was won impressively by 9/ 2 chance Acey, ridden by Luke McNiff, for Killavullen, Mallow trainer T J Nagle. Well placed from the outset, he was produced with his winning challenge, coming into the straight, and showed great resolution, to outstay more fancied rivals, to win impressively by 3 lengths from Kildare Blowin.

On Saturday at Leopardstown, Lisgoold jockey Paul Townend was superb on Shakervilz in winning the beginners chase.