Vic can spring Lexus surprise
There may be only six runners, but this is a very hot contest, given added spice by challengers from France and England.
In theory Southern Vic can't possibly win, considering he is currently rated a whopping 27lbs below Cheltenham Gold Cup hero, War Of Attrition.
But this isn't Prestbury Park on good ground in the spring, it is an altogether different type of stamina test, on a surface which is going to be very demanding.
Southern Vic will relish everything about it and showed he is in fine fettle right now with a decent effort behind Celestial Wave over flights at Navan.
War Of Attrition just isn't the same horse on this ground and defeats to Beef Or Salmon at Down Royal and In Compliance at Punchestown reinforced such thinking.
Beef Or Salmon is almost unbeatable round here and a recent success over flights at Fairyhouse showed he's in good shape. But he's now rising eleven and may be vulnerable.
Neither The Listener or L'Ami can be easily dismissed, but Southern Vic to make them all go is the forecast.
Arthur Moore's Royaldou, third over fences behind Young Desperado at Naas in November on his only outing of the campaign so far, gets the nap in the O'Dwyers' Stillorgan Orchard Maiden Hurdle.
Should he repeat his performance when three lengths runner-up behind Mr Nosie in a Grade 1 on this track back in February, Schindlers Hunt was 11 lengths away in third, then he will surely collect!
The rapidly improving Cailin Alainn is the one they all have to beat in the Powers' Whiskey Novice Chase. She beat Schindlers Hunt a cosy three parts of a length in the Drinmore Chase at Fairyhouse and that form received a major boost when Schindlers Hunt scored with a lot in hand at Leopardstown on Thursday.
