Beryl, Bluesea is not in the P.P. @ Leopardstown. Whilst the trainer did not totally commit to the Welsh Nat.,it is the only race Bluesea is in over the Christmas period.

Booster. I think youre getting a little carried away with Dance Islands form. His defeat of Dream Alliance over hurdles -he was getting best part of 2 stone after a long lay off. (The 3rd that day hasnt won since). He won a tinpot 4 runner novice chase beating a 10 yo who hadnt won a race for 3 years and a Nicholls horse beaten out of sight in the Badger Ales. Dance Island was stuffed next time by Blazing bailey who in turn got humped next time. I ask you to watch again the Aintree race and the heap that they jumped the last in. The race was slow by 30 seconds on GOOD ground which to my mind suggests it is very suspicious form and I stand by my comments regarding Burton Port that I made earlier. I agree that the Midlands National form as such isnt up to much but the horse showed lots of guts to win which you obviously need to win at Chepstow. I was taken by the way he bombed clear in a novice chase at Chepstow despite being hampered twice on the run in. It reminded me so much of when Mini Sensation won the Welsh National - the difference being in the region of 25lb!
Red and White - I was referring to Tom Segals comments regarding Dance Island needing better ground and then tipping him for a race that is usually run on bad ground. He does suggest that its factored in the price which is fair but the chances of "better" ground in late December seem a touch remote to me.

Was puzzled by Dance Island's omission from the antepost betting list in yesterday's post. Doesn't seem to be a problem. I'm not a fan of the paper - bring back the Life!

Funny you should mention Maktu as I liked his first run and had a look at the form when the weights came out and thought he'd have a chance but price has shortened a bit now. He must go well anyway. The one of Venetia's I like is Summery Justice as I was very impressed at Bangor when he beat Buffalo Bob. Looked like he'd love a step up in trip. Notre Pere did look like he was running well when hampered at Aintree but hadn't shown much for a while.

I'm like you, can't wait for racing to start, looks like Cheltenham this weekend will be a great card, then we need Kempton and Chepstow to be on for a Merry Christmas. Oh and Ascot for the Ladbroke.

Plenty of Maktu fans on here.  I got what I could at 25's with Billys and took some more 20's.  The positives for this horse are unbelievebale and the one thing nobody has mentioned is his sire is the same as Dream Alliance, another postive.  Here's todays update and all is going well so far.  14's is still a very good price.

Pat Murphy's two-year plan will finally be acted out later this month when Maktu challenges for a slice of glory in the Coral Welsh National.

Murphy, whose greatest success as a trainer was in the demanding Chepstow handicap with Supreme Glory back in 2001, has been convinced Maktu has the right attributes since his hurdling days and bookmakers seem to agree - the chestnut is no bigger than 14-1 in the ante-post market.

Maktu has won at the course twice already and acquitted himself well in a busy but fairly low-key first season over fences before finishing a close second to King Fontaine in a handicap at Haydock.

The cold spell scuppered another possible outing, but Murphy, based in East Garston near Hungerford, is undeterred.

He said: "We haven't been badly hit by the weather and it would have been nice to have given him another run at Chepstow last Saturday but he's a really clean-winded horse and he'll have no problems with fitness."

Murphy's forward-planning comes from his early inspirations.

He continued: "Two years ago he ran in a three-mile handicap hurdle on Welsh National day and I said to the owners that we'd be back for the National itself two years later.

"So basically his career has been counting back from December 27, 2010.

"From my time with Pat Taaffe and Dermot Weld, I learned that you have to plan ahead.

"Dermot is particularly good at earmarking targets a long way ahead - he didn't go and win the Belmont Stakes on a whim, it was a year in the planning."

Comparing Maktu with Supreme Glory, Murphy assessed: "They are both good stayers who jump well, so you would say there are similarities, although this one would be a bit speedier.

"Mind you, Supreme Glory would find another 10 miles an hour whenever you put a row of fences in front of him!"

Lucinda Russell reports Silver By Nature to be on course for another crack at the race having been beaten just three-quarters of a length into second by Dream Alliance last December.

The grey was well beaten in the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury last month for Russell expects him to improve for that first run of the campaign.

"He was quite tired after Newbury. It took quite a bit out of him and it was probably the travelling as well," said the Kinross trainer.

"We felt he might need his first race and it certainly was the case.

"He's come out of it fine. We've given him an easy week and he's now back in full training again."

Silver By Nature is a 12-1 shot with the sponsors for the Welsh National over a stamina-sapping

synchronised makes far too many mystakes not for me !

Sintonian - you can hear TS reasons for putting up Synchronised for the race on RPTV but basically he won nicely at the course last season and he stayed and stayed when he won the Midlands national. Thinks hes the right type.
TINnotaTON - Im begining to think Any Currency is tripless. You would think a staying on 3rd over 3miles at Chelters in Dec behind the likes of The Package and The Totherone would set him up for the 4 miler at the festival but even with the extra mile and an arguably easier race he still gave an identical effort and stayed on too late. His target was the staying handicap at the called off Sandown meeting last week so they obviously feel he needs a vertical finish to have a chance. He will pop up one day but where?

Would be sceptical about the Midlands National form - only three finished and it was run in a swimming pool. Giles Cross pulled up when he reappeared and L'Aventure not sighted since. Type of race to bottom a horse.

i like the look of maktu but one i fancy at a massive price is flight commander,he was a top notch hurdler rated 154,he will run off a mark of 130 if he takes part,his novice campaign has been slow but he could have been layed out for a race like this,i notice he is entered for a hot novice race at cheltenham saturday,maybe it is his prep,also he won in the sludge at chepstow as a novice hurdler

he's tripless BET, 5 mile 1 1/2 furlongs yes, tomorrows trip no,
seriously may have a place wager but he's 6lb higher tomorrow due to being out the handicap

Sadly no 

He was taken out of the betting before the last declaration stage. Not actually heard what the reason was.

I've not been able to find out what's up with him, a bit worrying, he's surely close to a return to action if he's getting these entries!

What actual weight will the top weight carry (is it 12-0?) and what horse is this likely to be?

thx in advance...

I think he means Silver By Nature. Weights due to go up by 10lbs.

This race is becoming a right pain in the arse.

Backed 4 on Thursday - Galant Nuit, Any Currency, Maktu and Dance Island and now down to 2