Villarica has strong claims

The cross-country race apart, it was crack not craic for the substantial Irish raid on Cheltenham last weekend, but despite the reverses for some of our good novices like Dance So Suite and Moscow Express, there is still a lot more ammunition to be fired off at the Festival.

Joe Mac will be high on the list and he paid his placed rivals a compliment by allowing them to get so close to him at Naas. Even bearing that qualification in mind, I thought that Villarica ran an excellent race to finish only two lengths behind Load And Lock, who had been placed previously over hurdles.

It has the look of an above average four-year-old maiden hurdle at Tramore and that is only fit and proper, for it is a sponsored memorial to a very sporting southern bookmaker, the late Paddy Kirwan.

Rossmill Native won two bumpers earlier in the year and Pat Flynn's opinion of her as a prospective hurdler was shown off at Listowel, where she started a clear-cut favourite in a big field. Her confidence was upset by a mistake four hurdles out and she fell at the next. I doubt if she will repeat that error today.

Pick of the Paul Carberry rides is Clash Of The Gales in the Waterford Castle Rated Hurdle. He won with so much ease in soft ground at Clonmel, romping home 15 lengths clear of his field, that he can deem himself lucky that the handicapper gave him a modest hike, as a 6lb lift in the ratings would have made him unqualified for today's contest.

Florida Star ran moderately behind Function Dream at Punchestown, having earlier finished in front of the winner. The failure was prefigured in the betting ring, where he drifted badly suggesting that he would need the race. He has now to beat Rathgibbon, who was, in contrast, well supported and finished fourth to Function Dream.

The consistent Back To Bavaria (1-45) can pick up another purse, while Waitnow (3-45) shaped well enough when fourth to Glazeaway over hurdles at Punchestown to win a bumper.