Kempton Saturday

THERE had been whispers emanating from Ditcheat that the former Guillaume Macaire-trained Solo might be something special before he made his debut for Paul Nicholls at Kempton in the Weatherbys Cheltenham Festival Betting Guide Adonis Juvenile Hurdle. The four-year-old entire proved the rumour right in scintillating style, as he beat the Emmet Mullins-trained Fujimoto Flyer (Daryl Jacob) and Alan King’s Tremwedge (Tom Bellamy) by 13 lengths and five and a half lengths under a less than animated Harry Cobden.

The 6/4 favourite had been nibbled at in the market for the Triumph Hurdle in recent weeks, but immediately after this impressive display, he was slashed in the betting and now supersedes Allmanking and Goshen as race favourite.

His trainer confirmed him the pick of his juveniles and with the Triumph as his immediate target, although he tantalised observers by comparing the son of Kapgarde to Master Minded, and suggested that he would be a top-class chaser in time.

Favourite

He’s certainly bred more for jumping than any of the other principals in the Triumph picture, and looks a worthy favourite with more to offer when his stamina is tested in a truly run race.

Fujimoto Flyer was reported to be “heading home” by owners’ representative Anthony Bromley, and will miss Cheltenham, while Tremwedge remains a possible for the Boodles Juvenile Handicap.