NEWS ROUND-UP: IT'S FIVE years since Tasman won on his only previous start at Listowel but Davy Russell's mount can maintain his 100 per cent track record by securing the biggest victory of his career in today's €160,000 Guinness Kerry National.

A total of 18 runners line up for the prestige pot including the topweight Ponmeoath who is pursuing an unprecedented three-in-row in the three-mile highlight.

Also in the line-up is the 2006 winner Bothar Na and the David Pipe-trained Star Of Germany will attempt to secure a first cross-channel success since the Ferdy Murphy-trained Macs Supreme nine years ago.

Tony Martin runs both Royal County Star and Ruby Walsh’s mount, Northern Alliance, but punters who made another Martin runner, Green Mile, their ante-post favourite have their choice installed merely as third reserve for the race.

Another trainer doubly represented is Joe Crowley who runs the Galway Plate runner-up Knock On The Head as well as the dual-Ballybrit winner Paco Jack who has taken over at the top of the betting in some lists.

Paco Jack is certainly in form but may relish more testing conditions than he could get this afternoon and it’s hard to ignore how Tasman finished ahead of him at the Galway festival and is 12lb better off today.

Of course Paco Jack has been on a roll since but there didn’t look to be any fluke about Tasman’s run behind Natal during the summer and Liam McAteer hasn’t brought him out since.

The three-mile trip is a slight worry for Tasman, who won his maiden hurdle here in 2004 when trained by Dermot Weld, but the flat track should help him and the ground is drying out all the time.

That should also be a help to Royal County Star who will have the assistance of Paul Carberry but Tasman looks at the right end of the handicap.

The Bull Hayes ran a gallant race on his previous start on atrocious ground at Galway when running Aliyfa to half a length in a Listed race and Paul Townend takes a valuable allowance from his back in today’s mile and a half conditions race.

Maundy Money has been notably consistent in his recent starts and can get the reward for that in the seven-furlong handicap while Dual Gales and Ruby Walsh look a suitable option in the novice hurdle.

* Horse Racing Ireland have announced a replacement flat fixture at Fairyhouse next Tuesday to replace the meeting lost to the weather at Tipperary on September 9th.