Racing: The Irish flat season may be coming to an end but star hurdler Solerina could still try and make her presence felt on the level this month before returning to the jumping game.
The James Bowe team haven't ruled out the mare running in Leopardstown's November Handicap on the final day of the season on Sunday week. Only Essex was too good for Solerina in the Cesarewitch at the Curragh and if ground conditions suit she may try and go one better in the last big handicap of the term.
"She has plenty of pace for two miles, in fact she has plenty of pace for a mile and a half, just so long as the ground is testing. If it's soft or even heavier at Leopardstown we will consider the November Handicap, even though the handicapper pushed her up three or four pounds for her run at the Curragh," said Bowe's son Michael yesterday.
However, if Solerina bypasses that she won't be idle for long as the 20-1 shot for the Champion Hurdle continues her build up towards a possible trip to Cheltenham. "There are plenty of options like the Morgiana or the Lismullen and she is such a fluent jumper the hurdles do bring out her best. But we will leave it open for the time being. We're not going to rule out anything," he added.
Bowe also reported that veteran star Limestone Lad was only a couple of work-outs away from a dramatic return to racecourse action although no specific target has been mentioned.
Limestone Lad, the winner of 35 races, hasn't been seen since running third to Baracouda in the 2003 Stayers Hurdle after which he strained a tendon.
Last season's Supreme Novices winner Brave Inca is to begin his campaign towards the Champion Hurdle at Down Royal on November 5th. Trainer Colm Murphy yesterday outlined the plan of campaign on the way to Cheltenham with the Anglo Irish Bank Hurdle the prelude to a tilt at the Hatton's Grace at Fairyhouse.
"Then we would hope to look at Leopardstown over Christmas and possibly the AIG depending on how the horse is progressing. It's much the same sort of pattern as last season. The plan is to run first at Down Royal as long as the ground is safe," Murphy said.
With Back In Front committed to the Morgiana at Punchestown on November 14th, and the reigning champion, Hardy Eustace still to come, the Irish challenge for hurdling's top prize in March is taking shape already.
There are two new significant recruits to the jumping game, however, as the Aidan O'Brien- trained pair Two Miles West and Mikado have been sold to JP McManus to go jumping.
"Both have joined our team but it has not yet been decided where they will be trained. They will be gelded, given some time off and then brought back," said McManus's racing manager Frank Berry.
Mikado, a Listed winner at the Curragh this month, also ran third in the Ebor at York while Two Miles West, a son of Sadlers Wells and the double Oaks winner User Friendly, was runner-up in the Queen's Vase at Royal Ascot. The two horses have already been made 20-1 joint favourites with Cashmans for next year's Triumph Hurdle.
Total Enjoyment's finest moment came when winning the Festival Bumper at Cheltenham in March and her trainer Tom Cooper plans to make the long journey from Kerry to Down Royal on November 5th in order to give Total Enjoyment her first start over hurdles.
