Buddy Marvel can belatedly begin to realise his full potential by winning this evening's Galway feature, the £10,000 Guinness Extra Stout Handicap. When John McLoughlin's colt beat smart performers like Family Tradition and Caiseal Ros at Gowran in early May, he looked like justifying McLoughlin's belief that he is the best he is trained later in the season. An adequate fifth in the Derrinstown Derby Trial, however, was followed by a disappointing effort in the Savel Beg and he was then a late withdrawal from the Irish Derby.

McLoughlin later explained the withdrawal by reporting Buddy Marvel to be suffering from the virus that has plagued the Curragh yards this season and he now believes the horse was also sickening in his previous two races.

Buddy Marvel is now giving every indication of returning to his best and has been pleasing McLoughlin in his homework. It's a safe assumption that the best is yet to be seen from Buddy Marvel which is not a comment that can really be applied to opposition consisting of some hardened handicappers.

Graduated, a duel Golden Pages winner, is the most notable of them. The step up to 12 furlongs should not be a problem considering he is a former bumper winner and Dermot Weld's Layik looks likely to improve on his early season form.

Buddy Marvel is also likely to improve, though, and with his liking for soft ground and relish of a stiff finish to a 12-furlong race, he looks worth a bet.

The nap goes to the beautifully bred Spirit Of Tara who has a fourth attempt at adding a lucrative winning bracket to her name in the Smithwicks Maiden. It looked like happening at the Curragh last time when she was clear in the straight, only for the fast early pace she had set to catch her out, and she was headed close home by Sirinndi.

Michael Grassick looks to have found an ideal opportunity for Spirit Of Tara this evening and the filly should give the Curragh trainer his 17th winner of the season.

Support Act got a less than distinguished ride in a bumper here on Monday but his followers should get compensation in the concluding Arthur's Race. While Dermot Weld has supplied a number of expensive failures this week, it could be that Smiling Brave will give him a double in the Harp Lager Handicap.

Maduka, third to Winona on her debut at Leopardstown, is preferred to Jimmy The Greek in the Carlsberg Race and it may be worth taking a chance with Perknapp, who runs well fresh, in the O'Malley Handicap Chase.