He's making his seasonal debut, he's got to give 21lb and more to an ultra-competitive field and he's now a steeple-chasing veteran but Dorans Pride can still be fancied to win his second Guinness Kerry National.
The 10-year-old won this off 12st two years ago and showed last season that he remains a class act with a Hennessy success that only emphasised his subsequently disappointing effort in the Gold Cup.
Trainer Michael Hourigan, confirming that Paul Carberry will again ride, reported yesterday that Dorans Pride is as well as he has ever been at the start of a season.
Three racecourse schools since should have Dorans Pride fit enough and the record books show that this pot can be reclaimed with Pearl Of Montreal scoring in 1971 and 1973.
Those best qualified to deny him look to be Siberian Gale, whose jumping could let him down over these stiff fences, Promalee who could relish this three mile trip and possibly most of all Function Dream, especially if the ground softens.
However, the £70,000 Listowel highlight usually comes down to stamina and jumping, both of which virtues Dorans Pride famously has. As for the weight concession, just remember Hourigan's other Kerry National winner Deep Bramble who also shouldered top-weight to victory in 1993.
On the flat, it could pay to follow the talented Mary Williamson and her 10lb claim which is taken off the hitherto frustrating Abracdabra in the mile handicap while in the opener Mick Kinane's mount Welsh Wind is the selection.
His trainer David Hanley supplied Tragic Lover to beat Valleria at Roscommon recently.
The Tralee winner King's Tipp can follow up in the Schering Plough Hurdle and the Downpatrick winner Gaultier Gale can follow up at the other end of the country in the handicap chase.
Meanwhile, Brian Kavanagh, currently manager of the Curragh, has been appointed the Turf Club's new chief executive and will take over from Cahir O'Sullivan on November 1st.
Kavanagh (35) has been Curragh manager for the last five years.
Before that, Kavanagh, a graduate of UCD, had spent five years as financial controller of the Turf Club. He takes over from O'Sullivan who has been the Keeper Of The Matchbook since 1976.
