PROBABLY Jessica Harrington has had today's Guinness Galway Hurdle in mind for Space Trucker for a long time, possibly since he won a bumper here last September.

Like his stable companion, Oh So Grumpy, who won the Galway Hurdle two years ago, Space Trucker loves fast ground and is best suited to a right handed course. He is the choice to credit his shrewd trainer with her second success in this wide open race and Norman Williamson with his first.

Space Trucker came through his Galway preliminaries by beating Just Little in a close finish to the Murphy5 Irish Stout Handicap Hurdle at the Killarney May meeting and then a Flat race over the same course in July.

Just Little is now 2lb better off and will be expected to turn the tables. Aidan O Brien's charge was made favourite to win at the next Killarney meeting but ran no kind of race and was found to be in respiratory distress.

Khayrawani won that inconclusive Killarney event, but it may be worth noting that J P McManus's four year old, who is penalised 8lb, finished some dozen lengths adrift of Space Trucker in the race won by the good novice Mulli an at Punchestown with Just Little placed sixth.

Royal Albert does not have a lot of hurdling experience but if he has fully recovered from his race in Monday's GPT Amateur Handicap in which he was touched off by Gariyba, having run into traffic problems must have a decent chance. One recalls his 11 lengths success in a 24 runner two and a half mile handicap hurdle at Punchestown in April. He will get every yard today.

So too will Crossfarogue, penalised 7lb for his cantering win in a two and a half mile handicap hurdle at Tipperary, tough facilitated by Cullenstown Lady slipping up in the lead.

Dreams End and Suivez come from Britain. The former trained by Peter Bowen near Fishguard, has improved this season since having a tube removed. He ran a good race to finish second behind Tragic Here at Haydock, with Suivez relegated to eighth place. Tragic Hero had won at Aintree and subsequently finished a close up filth in Punchestown's Champion Four Year Old Hurdle. As Lady Arpel finished second, Pat O'Leary's filly has her chance. Talina's Law disappointed in that event.

With the weights rising by 18lb the enigmatic Treble Bob has it all to do under 12st but last year's winner, No Tag lightly raced again this season, must be respected. Jessica Harrington also runs her, Ladbroke Hurdle winner, Dance Beat, who must have a chance on her best form, and Noel Meade's relies on Alasad fourth behind Dance Beat at Punchestown hut, subsequently successful in a Flat handicap at the Curragh. Alasad is a big horse but if taking to the track could run well.

Space Trucker can win, and I nominate Royal Albert as Just one threat in a race bristling with dangers.