Solwhit is the new 7/2 favourite (from 4s) for the Champion Hurdle with Stan James following the shock defeat of Zaynar (6s from 4s) at Kelso earlier today; his Borders conqueror Quwetwo only holds a Festival engagement in the Arkle and is 20s from 50s despite never having jumped a fence in public.

Zaynar’s trainer Nicky Henderson remains in upbeat mood despite his superstar fluffing his lines in the Victor Chandler Morebattle Hurdle and he explained: "These things can happen - it is a horse race. "If the meeting had been off I was going to go straight to Cheltenham, so it is a good job it was on as he has had a right good blow in ground that wasn't for him.

"That ground would find a lot of horses out. I knew it would be testing and they have been struggling to get home all day.

"This doesn't change anything and we'll stick to the original plan.

"Barry said he was even taking a blow down the back and this isn't March 16.

"Kelso have done a great job getting this on and I have no regrets about coming.

"It is obviously disappointing as you would like to go to Cheltenham with his record intact and it does dent us."

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Champion Hurdle 2010 ~ Outright Ante post, (place terms: 1/4 the first 3)

7-2    Solwhit (from 4s)
9-2    Go Native (from 5s)
6    Zaynar (from 4s)
8    Khyber Kim
10    Punjabi
10    Medermit
12    Celestial Halo
14    Dunguib
14    Starluck
14    Sublimity
40   Bar