Citizen Vic

Citizen Vic put up a nice performance to win a two-mile-one-furlong novices' chase at Leopardstown on Sunday. His task was undoubtedly made easier by the early departure of Major Finnegan, but there was still a lot to like about the performance, he settled in second place behind tearaway leader Coscorrig, and took it up after the second last. It looked like See U Bob was travelling better going to the last, but Citizen Vic dug deep for Ruby Walsh, and he kept on strongly up the run-in to win, going away by over two lengths. This trip is an absolute minimum for Willie Mullins's gelding, but he still had the pace to beat a useful rival over what was probably his rival's optimum, clocking a time that was just 0.6secs slower than the time that Tranquil Sea clocked in the Newlands Chase later on the card.

Winner of a bumper and a maiden hurdle, the son of Old Vic has now won his last three chases, yet he continues to be a little under-rated. He has only run five times over fences, and he continues to progress. He is in the RSA Chase at Cheltenham, but it seems that his trainer is considering by-passing Cheltenham and going straight to the Powers Gold Cup at Fairyhouse, which would be an astute move. While he is unproven on ground any better than soft, and he probably wouldn't want it too quick at Fairyhouse, the two-and-a-half-mile trip is probably his optimum, and he should be a big player in the Fairyhouse contest if he goes there next.

28th February 2010

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