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Captain's Blog - 6th September 2010

Our trip to the North over the last few days was a resounding success. We managed to pack a lot into three days. The highlight was our visit to Knowsley Road where St Helens Rugby League club beat Castleford in the last league game to be played at this famous and historic ground. The atmosphere was terrific and when the soon to be retired Kieron Cunningham crashed over for the final try in the last twenty seconds the whole place went berserk. Cunningham is one of the greatest players ever to grace the game and has been a one club man for sixteen years. He is one of my sporting heroes and to see him score that try was a fitting memory for me to leave the old ground with. Back home now and with a decent nights sleep behind me I am ready to get to the gym and work off the excess of the last few days. I had been doing well with my training but a few days away and a good few beers has not helped this particular project so it is time to get back on the horse so to speak.

There was some excellent Racing over the weekend, the highlight of which was surely the success of Cape Blanco in the Irish Champion Stakes. He has put up some big performances already this year and now has finally won a big one and it is thoroughly deserved. He has been somewhat ignored by pundits and those in the know despite the big figure he ran when winning the Dante earlier this year, but he has been thoroughly consistent and this win over Rip Van Winkle showed him to be top class and if anything improving.

Aiden O’Brien was not so successful at Haydock on Saturday where Starspangledbanner was beaten in the Group 1 Betfred sprint. He seemed to have little excuse, it may just be that he is feeling the effects of some tough races this year. Markab won the race and he really is a progressive and like able sprinter for Henry Candy. He made every yard of the running and won in a fast time albeit on the sprint track that was riding very fast. The conditions played against Regal Parade who needs some cut to give of his best and he will still have something to say when it comes to the Autumn sprints.

A couple of days until we head off on holiday and I cannot wait. However, there is a fair bit of preparation to do before we go and I have been detailed to get up into the loft asap! My better half needs some holiday clothes fetching from up on high and it is my job to go up the ladder. After that I am planning on packing and then I will be doing some serious damage in the gym.

All the best at the start of another week.

Today’s Selection

5:10 Bath – Zelos Diktator (each way 5/1 Sky Bet )

4:30 Newton Abbott – Supernoverre (each way 11/1 Bet365 )