Solwhit one of only four entries

RACING:FIVE-TIME Grade One winner Solwhit features among just four entries for the Dobbins and Madigans at Punchestown Hurdle on Sunday.

The Charles Byrnes-trained six-year-old was victorious in this event 12 months ago in a campaign that also yielded a victory in the Irish Champion Hurdle.

Among his potential weekend opposition is Colm Murphy’s star mare Voler La Vedette, who turned in a most impressive victory at the track last month, and Noel Meade’s Donnas Palm.

Robbie Hennessy’s Sublimity completes the quartet and is set for his first racecourse appearance since suffering a suspensory injury that ruled him out of the Cheltenham Festival in March.

“He’s going to take his chance. The ground wouldn’t be ideal, but there’s only four left in it and it’s not often you get a Grade One with only four runners,” said Hennessy.

“At this stage of his career we’re just going to give him every chance and hoping that his leg stands up following his suspensory injury. He’s in great old form at the moment and we’ll just look after him and see how we get on.”

Elsewhere, Paul Nicholls is in no rush to decide who will partner Kauto Star in the absence of the injured Ruby Walsh. Connections will also need to decide whether to let the 10-year-old carry top-weight in the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury later this month ahead of his bid for a historic fifth King George VI Chase triumph on St Stephen’s Day.

“I’ve got two or three people in my mind but I’m not worried about it at this stage,” said Nicholls.