Naas next for Southern Vic
Regular pilot Ruby Walsh is set to go to England, so veteran Conor O’Dwyer, riding better than ever, is likely to team up with the imposing seven-year-old for the first time.
“The horse is in good old order and will run at Naas”, said trainer Walsh yesterday.
Southern Vic looked a possible star of the future at Leopardstown, taking the Grade One Ascon-Rohcon Novice ’Chase by 15 lengths.
He produced a tremendous display of jumping, powering clear of some decent rivals in the straight.
It was a performance which surprised his handler. “I expected him to take his maiden and a winners of one, but wasn’t prepared for that sort of effort,” said Walsh.
“He’s not the type to impress you at home. He’s a good, staying horse, but I wouldn’t regard him, at this stage of his life, as being as good as Commanche Court or Rince Ri.”
Walsh remains reluctant to commit Southern Vic to Cheltenham. “I can’t see him going to Cheltenham unless the ground was bottomless,” he said.
After Naas, Southern Vic is likely to head to Navan for another three mile race on February 19. The Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse, assuming the ground is on the soft side, could also be a target.
Willie Mullins will wait until Thursday or Friday before deciding whether the exciting Our Ben will take on Southern Vic.
Our Ben was one of the best novice hurdlers in the country last season and he made a promising start over fences at Leopardstown when runner-up behind Nickname.
“I haven’t made a decision yet, I would say it is 50-50 about Naas,” said Mullins. “I may wait for an ordinary beginners chase, but, at the same time, don’t want to run too close to the Moriarty ’Chase (Feb. 15) at Leopardstown next month.
“I could rely on Homer Wells (second to Our Vic at Leopardstown) instead, although the Thyestes at Gowran Park (Thursday week) is also a possibility for him.”
Meanwhile, Paul Nolan has ruled leading Irish Independent Arkle Trophy candidate Accordion Etoile out of an engagement at Lingfield on Saturday.
The seven-year-old is one of 10 entries in the Grade Two intercasino.co.uk Novices’ Chase but Co Wexford-based Nolan will not be travelling last season’s Champion Hurdle fourth.
“He won’t be going to Lingfield,” said Nolan. “We only stuck him in there in the chance that the ground might be better than it is over here but they are forecasting it to be testing too.”
Accordion Etoile coped with soft ground on his chasing bow at Limerick when going down to Watson Lake, before landing a Grade Two event at Cheltenham's Open meeting.
He was slashed in the ante-post market for the Arkle following that run, and is now down to 5-1 and disputing favouritism with Racing Demon.
“He is not a bad horse on soft ground but we don’t want to take on good horses on soft ground so we will more than likely stay at home,” Nolan added.
“We are hoping that the weather improves and he has two possible engagements.
“He could go for the Tied Cottage Chase in Punchestown on February 5 or for a conditions race at Naas on the 11th.
