Medical Card the right prescription for punters
The progressive Medical Card gets the nap in the Bumper. He only hinted at possessing ability in two outings last season, but there was plenty to like about his reappearance at Gowran Park in November.
The selection travelled powerfully through that contest, although ultimately outclassed and beaten five and a half lengths into second by Willie Mullins’ Don’t Turn Bach.
Time may well reveal Medical Card had a hard task that afternoon and it’s encouraging to note the third horse was a further 30 lengths away.
Thegreatjohnbowne should be hard enough to beat in the 20-runner Navan Membership The Ideal Christmas Gift Maiden Hurdle.
He actually made his debut over hurdles at the Punchestown Festival in April and was set to finish in mid-field, behind Copper Bleu, when parting company with today’s rider at the final flight.
Thegreatjohnbrowne returned to action in a bumper at Naas earlier this month, going off a strong favourite. He was less than impressive in scoring by a length, but that was a slowly-run contest which was never going to play to his strengths.
Paul Nolan’s Far Away So Close gets the nod in the Santa Claus Maiden Hurdle, having run a cracker at the first time of asking when second to the smart Age Benefit in a Punchestown bumper.
Nolan has his charges in good form right now and it seems highly significant that he has wasted no time launching Far Away So Close’s jumping career!
Edward O’Grady and Andrew McNamara are enjoying a terrific campaign and can combine to land the Moycarkey Novice Hurdle at Thurles tomorrow with Rigour Back Bob. He is rapidly heading in the right direction and could hardly have been more impressive when justifying some decent wagers to the tune of 16 lengths at Limerick.
Mourad, with the conditions of the race stacked in his favour, is hard to oppose in the Listed Horse and Jockey Hotel Hurdle.
Admittedly, on favourable weight terms, he proved no match for Donnas Palm at Fairyhouse, but meets nothing of that calibre now.
The Dew At Night, well beaten over hurdles at Cork six days ago, can make a successful return to fences in the Horse and Jockey Hotel Handicap Chase.
Prior to Cork, he was set to record a clear-cut victory on this track (over fences) but for falling at the last, and can make light of a 7lbs rise in the weights.
