Yielding To Soft

1:25 Ascon/Rohcon Novice Chase (Grade 1) (5yo+)

[off 1:27] £34,574.47, £10,106.38, £4,787.23, £1,595.74 17 fences 3m

Comments In Running OR TS RPR

1 Southern Vic T M Walsh 6 11-10 R Walsh 5/2J 130 95 145+

2 15 Homer Wells W P Mullins 7 11-10 D J Casey 7/1 82 124

3 4½ Tumbling Dice T J Taaffe 6 11-10 B J Geraghty 7/1 78 119

4 20 Coast To Coast E J O´Grady 6 11-10 tb Mr K E Power 20/1 60 99

5 2½ Romaha S J Mahon 9 11-10 t L J Fleming 50/1 58 97

6 Oulart (GB) D T Hughes 6 11-10 C O´Dwyer 20/1 — —

F Slim Pickings Robert Tyner 6 11-10 D N Russell 7/1 — —

UR Church Island Michael Hourigan 6 11-10 P Carberry 5/2J — —

F Mr Babbage W P Mullins 7 11-10 J R Barry 10/1 — —

F Tigerlion J Bleahen 7 11-10 M Darcy 10/1 — —

10 ran TIME 6m 25.20s (slow by 20.20s) TOTAL SP 124%

1st OWNER: Mrs Brenda Graham BRED: Neil R Tector TRAINER: T M Walsh

2nd OWNER: Mrs M McMahon

3rd OWNER: Mrs John Donegan

TOTE WIN £4.10 PL £1.80, £2.50, £1.90; Ex £61.00; CSF £22.19

ANALYSIS: Having looked a staying chaser in the making when winning twice over hurdles at this venue last season, SOUTHERN VIC duly delivered when stepped up to three miles for the first time. He led or disputed throughout before forging on again from the fifth- last and he had his chasing rivals in trouble over the penultimate fence before coming home the facile winner. "He jumps and he stays and is a fair novice but whether he can take the next step up is the big question," said Ted Walsh of the six-year-oldwho earned a best price 25-1 quote with Boylesports and Cashmans for the Royal & SunAlliance with Paddy Power going 16-1. The other question is whether he can handle better ground, but with his proven ability on this easier surface he looks sure to be challenging for the better quality three-mile chases around here next season.

Homer Wells had won over a furlong further at Fairyhouse at the beginning of this month and with trip and ground in his favour ran a decent race back in second along with Tumbling Dice. Held up in the early stages he made headway to take closer order down the back straight but the distress signals went up after the third-last.

Coast To Coast looked a threat after the third-last but was soon going nowhere after the penultimate fence along with rank outsider Romaha who led entering the back straight. He should be capable of winning his beginners' chase before long.

Slim Pickings fell at the first while Church Island, who had fiddled one or two earlier, was hampered by the fall of Tigerlion forcing Paul Carberry out the side door at the fifth-last.