Solwhit bound for Thurles

THE £200,000 Boylesports International has been rearranged for Ascot this Saturday after last weekend's Cheltenham cancellation but the Solwhit team could be tempted by an easier option closer to home.

Just 11 entries are left in Sunday's Horse and Jockey Hotel Hurdle at Thurles and Solwhit looks to dominate them although he had originally been set to run at Cheltenham last weekend.

Trainer Charles Byrnes said last evening that his November Handicap winner was "unlikely" to travel to Ascot for the weekend for the rearranged race.

The Thurles event grabbed some headlines last year when the high-class Catch Me started a 2 to 11 favourite and beat only one home behind the 25 to 1 winner Sunshine Guest.

The British Horseracing Authority confirmed the Boylesports rearrangement yesterday and Ascot will stage a seven-race card with the Boylesports International off at 1.40pm.

Boylesports also confirmed yesterday that their £200,000 bonus, if the winner of their race goes on to land the Champion Hurdle, still stands.

Due to the addition of the new race, the Long Walk Hurdle has been moved to 2.10 with the Ladbrokes Hurdle off at 2.45. All three races will be shown on BBC1.

The funeral service of trainer John Fowler, who was tragically killed in an accident on his farm on Monday, will take place at Rathmolyn Church at 2.30pm tomorrow. His removal takes place tonight at 6.00pm.