Vic no match for Serge at Ascot Killultagh Vic proved no match for the Nicky Henderson-trained L'Ami Serge in the Sky Bet Supreme Trial Novices' Hurdle at Ascot. Willie Mullins' charge, who posted an easy success on his jumps debut at Clonmel last month, attempted to make all the running in the Grade Two contest in the hands of Ruby Walsh. L'Ami Serge, the even-money favourite following a runaway success in handicap company at Newbury last month, closed up rounding the home turn under Barry Geraghty, and while he guessed slightly at the final flight, he still came home seven lengths clear with his head in his chest. The defection of Gunner Fifteen meant just three horses went to post and Emerging Talent was moving well turning into the straight before suffering a heavy fall at the second-last, turning it into a straight match. Henderson said of the winner: "He's good, isn't he? Barry said he was very, very long on the second-last and then said 'I'm even longer here (at the last)'. There was no point in trying to do heroics. "He's grown up a lot from Newbury, which he showed in work. The great thing about him is he has a lot of experience in France. He ran a stack of times and it was surprising he didn't get his head in front, which is surprising the way he goes. "We don't need experience - he knows what he's doing. He is an out-and-out two-miler and is no slouch. I suppose we will go for the Supreme. It wouldn't hurt to go left-handed. That's why we thought about the Tolworth - if he has a bias, it is going left. If there's a two-mile trial at Newbury, we'll go there."
