Eric McNamara hopes Questions Answered can give him a fourth win in the Guinness Kerry National in the last seven years at Listowel on Wednesday.

Questions Answered had to play second fiddle to his stablemate Faltering Fullback 12 months ago, but he is the County Limerick trainer's sole representative this time.

McNamara admitted he would have liked to have got a run into the eight-year-old last month, but the horse was coughing.

"We didn't get a prep run into him at Killarney which is a pity as I always like to get a prep run into him before the Kerry National," he said.

"We've loads of work done with him and I am happy that he's in particularly good order.

"It's a very competitive race with the first, second and third from the Galway Plate running, but I think he'll be one of the ones thereabouts.

"Although he is lurking at the bottom of the weights he is still five or six pounds higher than last year without winning so he's not thrown in.

"Soft ground won't inconvenience him. He goes on any ground, bar firm."

A maximum field of 18 is set to line up, including the Martin Brassil-trained Double Seven, who has won three races in a row at Kilbeggan.

"I'm very happy with him, but I'm a bit concerned that the ground has deteriorated since declaration time. He likes a trip and stays three miles really well," said the County Kildare trainer.

"He's mixing in better company, having gone up 27lb, so we'll see how he gets on.

"He's not reliant on running at Kilbeggan, those races were suitable for him and he's actually better on a galloping track.

"He's also won in Sligo and Galway. After this race we might look at the Munster National on October 13. That's an option for him."