'He'll strip a lot fitter this time' - Eric McNamara sweet on big-race favourite

Eric McNamara is optimistic big-race favourite Donkey Years can turn Listowel disappointment into Limerick delight on Sunday, as the local trainer sizes up a major handicap pot in the JT McNamara Ladbrokes Munster National (3.35).

After missing the cut to get a run in the Kerry National last month, Donkey Years was rerouted to a 2m6f handicap later in the week at the Listowel harvest festival but failed to fire as the last of nine finishers in the Southampton Goodwill Plate.

Cheekpieces, which had been applied for the JP McManus-owned performer's biggest win at the Punchestown festival, were left off on his latest start, and McNamara is hopeful the refitting of headgear will benefit the 6-1 co-favourite.