Southern Vic can pass tough test
A useful hurdler last season, Ted Walsh’s charge promises to be far better at this game and looks to be a young horse with a big future.
He put up a smashing performance at Leopardstown over Christmas to beat Homer Wells, now reopposing on 7lbs more favourable terms, by 15 lengths.
Southern Vic jumped superbly and the manner in which he surged clear at the end of three miles was impressive. There is no doubt he has plenty on his plate here, but can come through with flying colours.
Drummer First is napped to beat Mattock Ranger in the INH Stallion Owners’ EBF Maiden Hurdle.
John Kiely’s charge took far too long to warm to his task when coming from well off the pace to be beaten a fast diminishing neck by Patsy Hall at Gowran Park.
Patsy Hall has given the form a couple of boosts in the meantime and dropping down five furlongs in trip shouldn’t be too much of a concern for the selection, on this stiff track.
Mattock Ranger easily beat subsequent winner Conem in a Thurles bumper, but you would have to say it was disappointing he then failed to cope with the moderate La Fisarmonica over flights at Fairyhouse.
Solerina is different class to her rivals in the Cedar Building Hurdle and should enjoy little more than a good canter round.
Sweet Wake, who currently takes high order in the ante-post market for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham, puts his reputation on the line in the Irish Stallion Farms’ EBF Irish Racing Writers’ Novice Hurdle.
Previously a winner of a Group Two on the level in Germany, he made an excellent start over jumps at Leopardstown when cruising to a four lengths defeat of the promising Royaldou.
He can deal with a dangerous opponent in dual bumper winner Albert Mooney, who showed all the right qualities to beat Celtic Sammy, stable companion of Sweet Wake, at Navan first time over hurdles.
At Fairyhouse tomorrow, Dessie Hughes’ Central House can get back on the winning trail in the Normans Grove Chase.
He would have beaten Hi Cloy and Fota Island at Leopardstown last time, instead of taking third, but for the unfortunate Roger Loughran mistaking the winning post.
Paul Carberry now takes over from the suspended Loughran and Central House should cope with Fota Island, despite that horse being 5lbs better in.
Our Ben can get off the mark over fences in the Irish Stallion Farms’ Beginners Chase, even if the trip is way short of his best.
He proved no match for Nickname at Leopardstown, but this is a major drop in class and Willie Mullins’ gelding can have a confidence booster, on the way to renewing rivalry with Nickname in the Moriarty Chase at Leopardstown next month.
The tough Firth Of Forth, who took a moderate maiden in good style at Leopardstown, will be well suited to stepping up to three miles for the first time in the Mulhuddart Novice Hurdle.
