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Captain's Blog - 25th January 2011

I enjoyed being back in the booth again yesterday after a period on the sidelines. I am a nappy changing man of leisure today and then will be back in the studio for some Kempton action tomorrow night. After a few days away from the workplace I felt a little rusty yesterday but the cobwebs have now been ditched and I am looking forward to getting back on the horse on Wednesday.

As far as tipping is concerned this month I do not mind admitting I have had an absolute nightmare. Yes my mind has been on other things but in truth that is a pathetic excuse for some terrible selections of late. I need to get back to my speed figure basics to help me resume winning ways and that is certainly what I will be doing for the last few days of the month in an effort to try and redeem things somewhat. When you are on a poor run you seem to meet with bad luck as well along the way. For example I really fancied a horse called Loyalty yesterday in the last at Wolverhampton and managed to secure a nice few quid on each way at 10/1. Held up for a late run as he needs to be I was confident at halfway and as he charged for the line I was convinced I was going to strike. Photo Photo was the cry, but in truth I knew I had been beaten and when the result came through I had duly finished second beaten a nose. Fair enough I suppose and at least I had secured the each way part of the bet and had not lost anything, however the replay showed Loyalty had been hit over the nose by an opposition rider's whip inside the last 50 yards which lost him some momentum, I was gutted, without that tap on the nose I would have probably won! What a nightmare; but those are the things that happen when you are completely out of nick. Incidentally some would say that Loyalty would have won if he had been ridden close to the pace and started his run earlier, nonsense, if he had done that he would have been beaten further. Paddy Mathers gave him an excellent ride and was just unlucky, that happens in sport.

Time for me to have a look at all of the racing today and try to come up with a winner or two but I will be resisting the temptation to go for a ’shortie’ just to get one through the hoop. That is an even quicker way to the poor house!

All the best folks.

Today’s Selection

3:20 Southwell – Sharp Shoes (each way 12/1 Sky Bet )