WILLIE MULLINS, for whom the Irish punters were laying out a few carpets after Florida Pearl had become the stable's second successive Cheltenham bumper winner, can saddle the winner of the Bargaincity Carpets Handicap Chase at Gowran Park this afternoon through the medium of Monalee River.

He has not won a race since beating Lisselan Prince here in November 1995, but, on the evidence of his latest run, the famine should soon be at an end. He was still there with a live challenge at the final fence at Leopardstown two weeks ago when chasing up J.P. McManus's Aintree Grand National hopeful Wylde Hide.

Go Go Gallant, who sports the same colours as did Lisselan Prince, can be the runner-up en route to the Irish Grand National.

With Charlie Swan staying on in England today to ride Blaze Of Honour (12.45) and Scribbler (1.50) at Uttoxeter, Trevor Horgan collects the mount on Colm's Rock in the Lukeswell Novice Hurdle.

It has "winner" written all over it, for while the principal opponent Ceoil Agus Craic could only get up close to the line to beat Tormond Perk by half a length at the Red Mills meeting at Gowran Park a month ago, Colm's Rock came home on the bridle by a wide margin in the Horse and Jockey Novice Hurdle at Thurles.

The final verdict was 10 lengths between Colm's Rock and the other joint favourite, West Leader, who in turn was 15 lengths in front of Jensalee (3rd).

Another Aidan O'Brien winner looks to be Lady Moskva in the first of the two bumpers. She was the outsider of the stable trio when she made her debut at Naas last month and not only did she prove the pick of them, but she turned out to be the only challenger in the last quarter mile to Mount Druid.

In the other bumper, O'Brien runs Moneyclear, and while this is not his first racecourse appearance, one would need superior powers of divination to make out what chance he has in a flat race after refusing four hurdles out when trailing the field.

A wiser investment may be Lost Alphabet, because he acquitted himself with some promise when ninth of 22 to Musical Mayhem in an all-aged bumper at Fairyhouse six weeks ago. Lancastrian Pride (3rd) and Lafontd'or (5th) are subsequent winners from this race.

Lancastrian Pride accounted for the very promising Royal Marine and Minella Hotel in winning his Fairyhouse bumper and he can carry on with a successful hurdles debut against the experienced Ebony King and the recent hurdles runner-up Heather Ville.