Dixon hoping Solo Hunter does not have stage fright again on belated return

Last April, Solo Hunter's intended first start for Scott Dixon did not, to put it mildly, go to plan.

The nine-year-old refused to go out on track at Doncaster, preferring instead to stay in the parade ring. A lot of time has passed since that indiscretion, and now Solo Hunter has a chance to redeem himself at Catterick on Tuesday in a 1m4f handicap (3.25).

It will hopefully be a first run since September 2017 for Solo Hunter, who has run 40 times during his career and was described on Monday by Dixon as "quirky".

The trainer said: "He is difficult and a quirky customer. We didn't expect him to do what he did at Doncaster and we're hoping for a different result this time. If he does it again I think that will be him off to do a new job.

"I wouldn't describe him as a malicious horse, he just has his own ideas about things. We've done a few different things at home with him over the time we've had him and he's had a big long rest and hopefully those things will work.

"We're hoping for the best, it's his first run out and I just hope he's a good boy and goes out on to the course. I don't see why he shouldn't based on what he does at home."

Should Solo Hunter put his best foot forward on Tuesday, there is the outside chance of a big-race bid, as he holds an entry for next month's bet365 Cambridgeshire Handicap.

Dixon, who describes that entry as "speculative", knows how to handle tricky runners, with Southwell specialist Crosse Fire another who has his own idiosyncrasies.

The trainer added: "He's borderline untrainable. If you ever witness him going out on to the racecourse, it's a good job I'm not a little lad!"

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