Paul Mahon has put together the following form guide for the men’s race tomorrow. He thinks that’s it’s going to be dominated by mountain runners. We’ll see weather WAR turns out to be an endurance course which would suit mountain runners as Paul believes or a strength endurance course, which would suit mulitsport athletes like triathletes and duathletes!!!

Peter O Farrell – Rathfarnham WSAF

The favourite given his past record of numerous successes including 3 GF6 and one GF12 titles and of course the winner against a top class field in last year’s Achill Roar. He has been seen training hard recently with this race as a focus tho the lack of any significant amount of technical downhill running will do him no favours.

John Caffrey – Belpark Triathlon Club

This recent winner of several early season duathalons is recokoned to be one of the triathletes likely to figure prominently due to his paddling proficiency and strength on the climbs and descents on the bike.

If he is in touch arriving at Lough Dan he is likely to get a lead coming off the water and the others will have to chase him down but his strength in the key hill running discipline is a little suspect after fading from a joint leading position starting Croagh Patrick to 5th in last year’s Galeforce (GF) though this course is likely to suit him better.

Eoin Keith – Cork

Better known for his endurance running exploits he is the only one to have beaten O Farrell in this type of event in the 2008 GFand finished 2nd to him in last year’s Achill Roar.  His cyclin has improved in recent months due to inclreasd milage whilst unable to run abd his is certainly one that is likely to be prominent throughout.

Keith Heary – Carlow Tri Club

A biker turned duathlete who finished 2nd last weekend at the Jeleous Wall Duathlon and recently finished 4th in the Wicklow Way Ultra run and won the Galeforce 24 hour road bike event in 2009 he is one that might spring an upset if his kayaking is up to speed.

Noellie Kavanagh – Wicklow Tri Club

Locan hopes will be placed firmly on his shoulders and he will have no excuses for a lack of practice on this course. A past winner on the tri circuit he has made the annual Roundwood Biathlon virtually his own in recent years and will be a popular winners if he can live with the other’s on the water in particular.  He led from start to finish in last weekend Ashford duathlon, so he’s in form.

Arron O Donaghue – Rathfarnham WSAF

Another dark horse who’s recent parenthood seems to have been a great bonus to his training regime. This course is sure to suit his climbing strength on the bike and if he’s up there at Sally Gap he will take all the beating.

John Mc Enri – Rathfarnham WSAF

A third member of the Rathfarnham based training group along with O Farrell and O Donaghue in this form guide that are regulars on the Dublin hills, he has had his share of successes in mountain marathons, CLEC, Annacurragh and Kilbroney Challenges.

If he gets his tactics and nutrition right on the day he will be a force to be reckoned with though a hard fought 6th place in Connemara half last weekend might not have been ideal preparation.