LEOPARDSTOWN FESTIVAL:THE GOLD Cup might appear a duopoly but the Champion Hurdle looks wide-open in comparison and Solwhit placed himself back square in the middle of the reckoning with a comprehensive Grade One defeat of Sublimity at Leopardstown yesterday.

In the process he reversed placings with his rival from Newcastle’s Fighting Fifth where Solwhit looked completely unsuited by a farcically slow early gallop.

There was no repeat of that in the December Festival Hurdle and Davy Russell punched Solwhit a couple of lengths clear of Sublimity with Jumbo Rio back in third.

It was enough for some bookmakers to make Solwhit their new 4 to 1 favourite for the Champion Hurdle in March.

Yesterday’s victory was a fourth Grade One for the horse in total, and his third at two miles, yet Charles Byrnes would like a little cut in the ground conditions at Cheltenham. “Good ground would probably be a concern as on that, he is probably best at two and a half miles,” said the Co Limerick trainer. “It turned into a three-furlong sprint at Newcastle and Davy had a Plan B in case that happened again. But they went a reasonable pace without going mad and it worked out well.”

Russell reported: “I took a closer position in case there was no pace and he idled in front.”

Sublimity’s cause wasn’t helped by a mistake at the fourth but jockey Philip Carberry said: “The ground after the second last was quite testing and it took the speed out of him. But I was very happy with him.”

Sublimity could go straight for the Champion at Cheltenham but Byrnes is favouring a return to Leopardstown for the Irish Champion in a month’s time for Solwhit.

That is also the target for Voler La Vedette who missed out on yesterday’s Grade One in favour of what was widely presumed would be an odds-on stroll in the Listed mares hurdle.

It didn’t turn out to be that as Paul Townend had to shake up Colm Murphy’s 1 to 3 favourite to beat off the Jessica Harrington-trained pair, No One Tells Me and Zarinava.

“She ran too free and I suppose you could say the performance was workmanlike. But she will drop back to two mile for the Irish Champion Hurdle and a stronger pace will suit. We will be dropping her in at the deep end but that will tell us which way to go,” Murphy said.

Voler La Vedette is a 7 to 2 second favourite behind Quevega for the David Nicholson Mares Hurdle at Cheltenham but was lengthened to 20 to 1 for the Champion Hurdle. She will have entries in both races. “The Irish Champion will help us make our minds up but I’m satisfied with today’s performance,” Murphy added.

The Co Wexford trainer completed a double as Zaarito trounced his opposition in the Beginners Chase to earn Arkle quotes of 14 to 1 from some firms.

“He had the misfortune to come up against Captain Cee Bee the last day and we’ve seen what he did,” Murphy said. “We can go up or down in terms of trip and the ground won’t bother him.”

Willie Mullins had a frustrating experience with Cooldine in the Lexus but his 6 to 4 favourite Don’t Turn Bach managed to end the day successfully for the champion trainer by holding off Our Girl Salley in the bumper.

“He looks a fair sort, a chaser in the making with all the size and scope, but we will look for a maiden hurdle in the new year,” Mullins said.

Western Leader made all the running to short head Acapulco in the opening maiden hurdle while Scavenger got the better of a prolonged duel with Tiernan’s Terror in the Opportunity Chase to win by half a length.

In other news, Davy Russell received a two-day ban from the stewards for his use of the whip on the Lexus Chase runner-up, Money Trix.