Feast on Banquet

This evening's seven-race card at Kilbeggan has the attraction of a £10,000 jackpot guarantee, and in the fourth contest, the Beginners Chase, more than one punter will be banking on Kings Banquet.

This is the last fixture of the 1998-99 season, a season in which King Banquet proved to be a decent staying novice hurdler, particularly in the early part with victories at Listowel and Punchestown.

His form tapered away slightly in the latter part, but he still has placed efforts to Galazeaway and To Your Honour in his record. The balance of his efforts, combined with a physique that suggests he will be better over fences, make him the selection in this over the Navan winner Ballyrihy Boy, who is also making his debut over the bigger obstacles. The most valuable race on the card is the £10,000 Westmeath County Council Centenary Handicap Hurdle, a nice pot but hardly the sort of thing to send the season, highlighted by first championships for Ruby Walsh and Noel Meade, out with a bang.

Whatever about the merits of ending future terms at the Punchestown festival, this evening's big race is a trappy contest and should be approached with some caution. Michael Hourigan has a fine track record here and his Afrostar, a three-and-a-half length winner over Patbardec at Downpatrick last time, is a tentative selection.

Montys Pass was beaten three-quarters of a length by Do It Once at Cork, but is preferred this time in the hunters chase, while in the opening maiden hurdle the 80 rated Lord Strickland can get the better of Audacious Dancer who is stepping back in trip.

Strong Image, a bumper winner here last September from Stone Baloo and Paircin, should improve from his run behind Pegus First at Cork to take the second maiden hurdle, and Ardnataggle has an attractive weight in the handicap chase.