Sweet fav for Supreme Sweet Wake strengthened his position as favourite for the Supreme Novices Hurdle when easily landing odds of 1/2 in the Irish Racing Writers Novice Hurdle at Naas this afternoon.The early stages of this race were run at a farcical slow pace but after Paul Carberry sent the five-year-old to the front three out the outcome was never in doubt. He quickened clear with the minimum of fuss for a very cosy three and a half lengths verdict over Conscript.´That was a bit of a f**k up of a race but it kind of suited as we didn´t want the guts dragged out of him. I don´t know if he´ll have another run before Cheltenham but he does look very special and showed some boot in the straight. You would have to think the way he moves that good ground will suit him,´ said trainer Noel Meade.Sean Grahams left the German import unchanged at 8/1 for the Festival opener but other firms were more impressed, with Cashmans cutting him to 6/1 and Paddy Power as low as 4/1 (both from 8´s).Southern Vic confirmed the big impression he made at the Leopardstown Christmas meeting when making all for another impressive success in the featured Woodlands Park 100 Club Novice Chase. The race was over in a matter of strides when Conor O´Dwyer asked the son of Old Vic to quicken after three out, and he galloped on relentlessly to beat Church Island by 12 lengths with Homer Wells a further 20 lengths adrift in third.´What you see is what you get as he just gallops, jumps away and stays well,´ said trainer Ted Walsh afterwards. ´He´ll probably go now for the ladbrokes.com Ten Up Novice Chase (another three miles Grade 2 event) at Navan on February 19, and that might be it for this season unless the ground stays soft. If somebody told me Cheltenham was in doubt then we might consider going there!´Solerina recorded her 22nd career win when leading home a 1-2 for the Bowe family in the Cedar Building Hurdle. Gary Hutchinson eased her to the front off the home turn and, with Florida Coast travelling equally well in her slipsteam, he pushed the mare out with hands and heels to beat her tenderly handled stablemate by two lengths.´Gary said she possibly didn´t have the enthusiasm that she normally has, and I was surprised how close Flordia Coast got,´ said owner John Bowe. He added, ´There is talk of a new two and a half miles hurdle being created at Fairyhouse next month, which would suit her. If not, the Red Mills at Gowran is the most likely option.´Jessica Harrington received another boost, following the victory of Studmaster in the Pierse Hurdle at Leopardstown last Sunday, when Knight Legend ran out a convincing winner of the maiden hurdle. Robert Power´s mount was always travelling well and, after striking the front two out, stayed on strongly to beat Mattock Ranger by six lengths.Her local Moone yard has been laid low with a virus for some months but Harrington is hopeful that her powerful string are returning to form saying, ´They seem to be over it but it´s just something you can´t see so we have to just hope. This horse will go for a two and a half mile hurdle sonewhere, and we´ll try to miss the good novices.´Alan Magee
