Punchestown Saturday 19th December

Aw jesus dont my 'December', getting ahead of myself.

Im going with Norah Starr in the 3.10 race .....3 duck eggs over hurdles ...18th of 29 in Navan 26/03/11.....14th of 25 in Naas 09/03/11 and just before that 12th of 25 (mid div ) at Naas 25/02/11 beaten just 49 lengths........flat form is 28/07/11 Galway 2nd beaten just under 2lengths by Teach Nua 1m 4f handicap giving the winner 4lbs......Johnny Ward thinks it is thrown in and now rated 72 on the flat and 90 over hurdles ....its a low grade affair and Jesse h has 2 of the 15 runners with neither well fancied ..ground concerns for Citizenship and fitness for the other ok all aboard Mr. Wards nap and good luck......

3 I'm backing today (shanto's)

12.05 One Cool Shabra's recent hurdles form makes him the one to beat in this. He was 3rd in a maiden hurdle at Galway in August, beaten 6 lengths by the useful Sam Bass and the 2nd was runner-up on last 2 starts and 4th & 5th both won next time out while 6th won his maiden hurdle two runs later. It was a big improvement from his first run over hurdles and he came on for it again when winning a 2m Listowel 3yo hurdle on heavy next time out by 29 lengths. He was upped in standard when 2nd in a 2m Gowran 3yo hurdle last time, going down a head to Burrenbridge Lodge. The front two pulled 7 lengths clear of the rest which included Sam Bass who won a Cork 3yo hurdle next time with Burrenbridge Lodge in 2nd. The 3rd Hollymount King also gave the form a boost by finishing 2nd in a Punchestown maiden hurdle next time. 3/1 Totesport

1.05 Medical Card looks the one to beat in this. After winning his maiden hurdle over 2m3f at Naas on soft in November last year, Meade said he was a staying chaser in the making and he ran his best race to date on his chase debut last time when runner-up in a 2m4f Down Royal beginners chase, beaten 3 lengths by Four Commanders who had the benefit of a recent run over fences when 2nd at Limerick the previous month and he’s been declared for the grade 2 novice chase here on Sunday. Medical Card pulled 5 lengths clear of the rest and was probably a bit unlucky to meet something as good as Fours Commanders that day. Meade has won this race in 2 of last 3 years and Medical Card won't need to improve much on seasonal debut to win this, he won maiden hurdle on second run last season after finishing 2nd first time out. 10/3 Boyles

2.05 See U Bob has proven he goes well fresh and handles soft ground so might be the pick in this hurdle. He won on his first winter start in the 08-09 season in a 2m Thurles maiden hurdle on heavy after a layoff of almost 6 months. He won on his first winter start of the 09-10 season when landing a 2m Thurles beginners chase on heavy and he was running a decent race when falling in the 2m4f grade 2 chase at the big Down Royal meeting first time out last season. There’s no doubt he is more effective over fences, gaining his last win in grade 2 chase on his second last start at Navan in Marhc. He hasn’t won over hurdles since May 2009 when taking a 2m1f grade b Killarney handicap hurdle on soft off 119, however he’s only run 3 times over hurdles since then, all in very competitive handicap hurdles. There are plenty of question marks over the others, Aranleigh has been off track for over 600 days, Good Fella rarely runs well first time out, Beau Michel has been beaten on all 11 runs this year (placed just once), Dariak ran well enough after a 3 year layoff last time but may bounce while Sweet Shock and First Impressions’ recent form leave a lot to be desired. Hopefully Nolan will have See U Bob right for time out as he usually seems to and he can go well in suitably soft ground. 2/1 Paddy Power/Ladbrokes

good call in the first snipster

Great start snipster nice one   jumped on small ir at 3.2 sorry 4de aftertimin

super rde there....looks a lovely type. Smashing looker, black beauty!

All aboard Midnight Game ruby? books are taking no chances for what its worth I'm having a small lay of Southhamton in the Champioship v Brighton , saints were flying before the break but often breaks can halt momentum and Brighton are an ok side defend well.....

all over Jay is a understatement, i reckon it will win easily by 10l.

I hope Footy Facts is okay, terrible mistake and such a brave lad to get back up there

Jayus Willie really moving now. Some amount of winners over so many different types of races.

He can train alright

midnight game lost a leg...still going big

Huge drift on Midnight all of youghal are layn it

Mother o' God! Some drift, hopefully he doesn't know about it

jumping like a pig if he wins this he is some animal.

I hope that was a lack of fitness and rather than attitude. Didn't want to go past.

good ride from carberry

at least they are giving me a chance to lay off some of my losses.

Yes layed off as well couldn't see that being turned around Carbery was way too good there for Russel and poached a few lengths at a vital stage imho Russell is just mediocre and lucky to be where he is

How dat Norah Starr touched 2.32 I wiil never know I got out, but I just wish that I had the upto time pictures must be Euros to be made there "in running betting" a shocker from Norah

Thought Russell was piss. Like Gary Carroll last night getting there around 3f too soon in a race is unforgivable. That horse should have been choked out the back and then come with a long sustained writhering run. He was messed about all over the track today. Connections be delighted, gave him expirence and he hack up next time after that blow out.

But for the punter today its sick

'Midnight' was not race fit after missing the last 434 ffs

norn iron 19 Nov 11 15:39
SILVER CIRCLE

Silver Circle lost his chance in the parade ring. He was way too wired.
As for Midnight, he looked as if he would come on for the run.