Hits Only Vic umlikely to feature at The Curragh

Hits Only Vic is set to bypass Sunday's Hacketts Bookmakers Irish Cesarewitch as conditions continue to improve at the Curragh.

The four-year-old, who has four victories to his credit this term, was a winner at Haydock earlier in the month, seeing off Red Fama over two miles on heavy ground.

Although the Lemon Drop Kid gelding also won on quick ground at Doncaster in June, Declan Carroll firmly believes Hits Only Vic is better with some give.

"He's unlikely to go to the Curragh now as the ground is drying out all the time over there," he said.

"Although he can handle good ground, he is more effective on soft so I don't think we will run."

Hits Only Vic has finished out of the first two just once in nine starts this term and Carroll is hoping his consistency can be rewarded in the totesport.com Cesarewitch at Newmarket on October 18.

"The Cesarewitch at Newmarket is his main aim and we would be hoping for some cut for that," added the Sledmere trainer.

"He could run before then but it will depend on the ground really. He only needs 10 or 11 to come out of the Cesarewitch to get in so we would be pretty unlucky if we didn't get a run.

"He's a smashing horse though and has done well all season, but he's only four and I don't think we've seen the best of him yet."

Michael Bowe would love to run Sweet Kiln at the Curragh but will have to wait and see if she makes the cut for the competitive two-mile handicap.

The nine-year-old has four Graded victories over hurdles to her credit but she currently sits near the bottom of the weights on 7st 11lb following a win on the level in a Tramore maiden.

Bowe said: "I would give her a run but we will have to see if she gets in or not.

"It would be a big step up from her Tramore run but if she gets in I would love to give it a go.

"We don't really have a plan B if she doesn't get in yet, but I think she'll have a similar campaign to last year over hurdles."

Sweet Kiln won both the Lismullen Hurdle and the Christmas Hurdle at Leopardstown last year before disappointing on her final start of the year at the Cheltenham Festival.

"There's the likes of Navan (Lismullen Hurdle) to look forward to and she'll probably go for the same races as last year," Bowe added.

"She won't be going to Cheltenham again though as she didn't like the travelling and being away from home - she's a real homebird like a lot of mine.

"She didn't enjoy it and I won't put her through it again. If I'm going to Cheltenham this year, it'll be by myself!"