Assuming that some of the horses don't read today's race programme and go in search of familiar Kildare place names like Elverstown, Craddoxtown and Beggar's End, the first of the transferred Punchestown meetings should go off smoothly at Cork this afternoon.

The eight-race programme has a very autumnal look about it, though, and the Tattersalls Breeders race aside, the Elverstown Maiden has drawn the largest juvenile field of the current season.

All the big stables have multiple representation and the pick of those with racecourse form is Christy Roche's mount Dove Or- chid who ran a good race at Galway to be beaten a length by Hibernian Rhapsody.

There could be plenty of chat behind such newcomers as Hanzanar and Rose Petal, both of whom carry the colours of major owner-breeders.

However, I suggest that the gossip about the two-year-olds will be nothing to the whispering about the possibility of Christy Roche, as trainer, winning one or other of the Craddockstown Handicaps.

The ability of King Wah Victory is the more elusive, for he ran three times last year and so, without reaching the first six, qualified himself for handicapping.

He could be a good thing but, on the other hand, he may be a very moderate horse. Let the market dictate the interest and stay with Midnight Lover, who ran so well at Listowel.

For those not afraid to lay the odds, Bakkar looks a snip in the Beggars End Race. He was backed from 4 to 7 to 1 to 3 first time out at Dundalk and cruised home a five-and-a-half length winner from Frenchie. The reason for such confidence was made apparent at the Curragh soon afterwards when he was such a close second to Theatreworld.

It is hard to get away though from that man Christy Roche, who looks to have the jockeys championship in the bag. He will be running one of his jumpers, Bukhari in the first race.

Owned by J P McManus, Bukhari was a Christmas winner at Leopardstown from Boss Doyle and he looks a class above such recent hurdle winners as Aboriginal and King Of Glen.

Clive (AC) McGarrity, one of the most talented jockeys in this country during the 1960s and early 1970s when he rode for the stable of Paddy Prendergast Snr, has died in Belfast after a long illness. He was 51. His big-race wins included the 1968 Phoenix Stakes on Lord John.