< Solwhit is the new favourite for the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham in March after lowering the colours of Hurricane Fly in the Dobbins & Madigans at Punchestown Hurdle.

Charles Byrnes' underrated five-year-old - conqueror of Punjabi here in April - went of the 7-4 second-favourite and was one of three virtually in a line jumping the last in the Grade One contest.

Hurricane Fly was the first to crack as Davy Russell's mount quickened to win with plenty in hand from Muirhead with the odds-on favourite only third.

William Hill and Victor Chandler were suitably impressed by the winner and make him 4-1 favourite from 8-1 for Cheltenham. Hurricane Fly is out to 5-1 from 3s.

Byrnes said: ""He was impressive there. If we weren't going to beat Hurricane Fly today we never were.

"My lad doesn't take a lot of work to get him right. I was delighted with the pace of the race and he loves coming between horses.

"He's entered in the Fighting Fifth at Newcastle and that's in two weeks' time, which is a problem.

"If he doesn't go there we'll wait and run him over Christmas."

Russell added: "He's an improver. There's very little between all of these (Champion Hurdle) horses. My horse is at that level, no-one knows what will win the Champion Hurdle but my horse is a contender."

Willie Mullins was not too disappointed with Hurricane Fly's performance.

"They finished in the order the handicapper had assessed them," said the County Carlow trainer.

"It was his first step up into senior company and I'm happy with his performance."

Henry de Bromhead's Sizing Europe maintained his unbeaten record over fences with a high-class display in the Grade Two Craddockstown Novice Chase.

The winning trainer said after the 1-3 favourite had obliged: "Leopardstown at Christmas will be his next outing I'd say and hopefully he'll get some nice ground there, but I'll have to speak with the owners before we make any decisions.

"He's a Champion Hurdle winner so I didn't see why we should step him in trip just yet but I do think in time he'll