Charlie's Vic & Derek Fox at Downpatrick© Photo Healy Racing
The odds on Charlie's Vic were 1/4 and things went fairly much to script for Noel Kelly's charge in the Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund Mares Novice Hurdle at Downpatrick.
Keen to keep things simple, Derek Fox let the chestnut daughter of Old Vic stride on from halfway. She looked in charge from the third last and though not quite in the style of her previous win, Charlie's Vic kept on well on the run-in to comfortably see off Nanna Maura by four lengths.
Kelly said: "That was straight-forward enough. I was just a bit worried that it came a bit soon after her last run (a Punchestown win a fortnight back).
"She had to make it a gallop in case she got caught out. A 5-horse race like that can be a bit messy.
"She's still young and being by Old Vic she probably won't mature fully until she gets older.
"She'll get one more run before being let off for the summer." (GC & EM)
