REBEL Fitz is set to carry top weight in next week's Guinness Kerry National. The 10-year-old has never run over three miles before and appeared to run out of stamina when second to Cailin Annamh at Galway last month over two and three-quarter miles.

Trainer Michael Winters reported of Rebel Fitz: "He is in great form and has come out of Galway spectacularly well. If I said that we had left something to work on going to Galway, I’d be only praising myself, but he hadn’t been out much over the summer and we were minding him.

"His coat has turned inside out and the race at Galway was like a practice match for him and his mind is great. We are very happy where we are with him now. He’ll have top weight and it won’t be easy to give weight away, but we’d be hoping that he’ll get into the money,” he added.

With Davy Russell out injured, Winters has yet to confirm riding arrangements but he said, “Out of courtesy to Barry Geraghty, he’ll be offered the ride again, but I’d say he’ll have to ride for his boss, J.P. McManus. There are loads of top-class riders around that we can choose from and he is a straightforward horse to ride.”

Paul Nicholls could be represented by Valco De Touzaine, a three-time winner and the six-year-old posted a fine effort last month at Newton Abbot, when runner-up to Standing Ovation.

Willie Mullins has entered no fewer than seven horses for next week’s showpiece. The highest-rated of them is doubtful stayer Alelchi Inois and perhaps the pick of his entries is Galway Plate runner-up The Paparrazi Kid.

Last year’s first and second, Your Busy and Pass The Hat, will represent James Nash and Arthur Moore respectively. Nash said, “All my horses are in great form and I just hope he gets in – it might be tight. He worked great last Friday and I know he is 12, but he works like a six-year-old. Going into the race last year, his form was a bit in and out, but he has had a much better season this year and Katie Walsh will ride him again. He loves a bit of nice ground and with the way weather is at the minute, he might get that next week.”

Rule The World, who slipped up when in with every chance in the Galway Plate, could be one of four runners for Mouse Morris, who has also entered Ravished, Horendus Hulabaloo and Rogue Angel.

“I’ll run whatever I can get in. None of them are too ground dependant and they all seem to be in good form,” reported Morris.

The seven-day Listowel Festival starts on Sunday and the Kerry National is on Wednesday week (September 16th). This year the total prize-money over the seven days is €1.2 million, up €150,000 on 2014.