ERIC CAN PASS TRANSFER TEST
Mcnamara and Internal in National raid
The Eric Mcnamara-trained gelding comes into this race off a brave fourth in last month’s Kerry National.
On that occasion Internal Transfer set sail for home some way out before fading to finish fourth to Poker Party.
He can be rated better than his final position at Listowel and can do better now that he returns to a track that has provided him with his three career victories so far.
Internal Transfer could have most to fear from The Big Lense who comes here chasing a hattrick after landing decent handicaps at Listowel and Navan.
There could easily be more to come from this gelding but he does have to prove that he stays three miles. The card begins with an interesting novice hurdle where the much improved Darver Star can see off Fast Buck.
Darver Star sets a fair standard with a rating of 145 and he is looking to build on a clear cut victory over the useful Doctor Duffy at Listowel last month.
For his part Fast Buck has won his last two starts over hurdles and the most recent of those came at the Galway Festival where he accounted for the useful Turnpike Trip.
He is a smart sort and there is a chance that he will progress further for the step up to this trip.
Meanwhile at the Curragh, The John Kiely-trained Rock De Baune is a hopeful choice in the Tote Irish Cesarewitch.
This gelding came to Ireland with high class French jumping form but so far it is as a flat horse that he has made an impact.
He won a maiden at Ballinrobe during the summer and he struck again at Listowel last month in a mile and three quarters handicap.
At Listowel the way he finished would suggest that he will relish this two mile test.