Solatentif impresses on debut

Newcomer Solatentif (4/1jfav) ran out an impressive winner of the bumper at Killarney, the Christy Lucey Transport Ltd 4yo Flat Race, providing owners Ann & Alan Potts with a double on the card (third winner of the Festival).

The Henry De Bromhead trained son of Solon (also the sire of Solwhit) was prominent throughout and improved to dispute the lead from five furlongs out under David Roche.

He hit the front entering the straight and was ridden clear two furlongs from home, staying on well under pressure to score easily by seven and a half lengths. Hurricane Darwin was doing his best work at the finish and he took second at 9/2 under Patrick Mullins for his uncle Tony, while the other 4/1 joint-favourite Hickson was a neck back in third under Derek O’Connor for John Kiely.

Henry De Bromhead said afterwards: "He has been working well, but I never put the gun to ours first time out and I’d say my first time out record in bumpers wouldn’t be too good.

"He is deadly to jump and he is a real professional. It is possible that he could go for a four-year-old maiden hurdle at Gowran in October and perhaps a winners bumper in between.

"The next time Alan and Ann are over will be the Killarney meeting in August and if there is a suitable winners bumper he could go for it."

The winner was bought for just €4,500 as a yearling at Baden-Baden by well-known Wexford based agents Peak Bloodstock.

Additional reporting by Alan Magee