O’Dwyers strike with Solsbury

Solsbury Hill was produced with a well-timed charge by Charlie O’Dwyer to claim the Adare Manor Opportunity Maiden Hurdle at Leopardstown for his father Conor.

The Hugo Kane-owned gelding settled mid-division early in the two-miler before coming to challenge at the final flight.

He got the better of Following Orders on the run-in to post a three-parts-of-a-length victory.

The 12/1 winner survived a scare early on when it got tight on the inner after the first flight, with the Lucky Speed gelding squeezed up and breaking up some of the plastic running rail.

Conor O’Dwyer said:- “We have eventually got it right with him. We’ve tried everything — different trips, put a hood on him the last day and took it off today, and in fairness to Charlie he was adamant that he wanted to drop him in and get him switched off down the inner, but it was fairly rough early on. There was a lot of hustle and bustle, and I think he hit the rails.

“He was probably a little bit further back than he wanted to be, but Charlie was adamant that once he switches off, he has plenty of pace. They went a strong enough pace and it all worked out well for him.

“He jumped super down the back and produced a nice turn of foot.

“He’ll definitely go chasing next season as he jumps a fence super and is a nice one to look forward to.”

(Quotes by Alan Magee)