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Captain's Blog - 26th October 2010

Toby Tyler scrambled into 4th place at Leicester yesterday to give us some reward for our each way go at 7/1. It was a reasonable start to a new week, but I am hoping to fare a good deal better at Catterick today which is one of my favourite punting tracks. I am not quite sure why it is a good track for me, but I have always had a fair bit of success at the North Yorkshire venue. Quite often i have followed Silvestre De Sousa blind at this track because he is an excellent judge of pace and on this undulating course that ability is vital. I know he is very good wherever he rides, but he gets this place right more often than other riders who regular ply their trade here. Talking of Jockeys surely Hayley Turner deserves more rides than she actually gets. She displayed all her talents yesterday at Kempton when winning on Mustakmiland and is a strong, tactically astute jockey, who rides horses as they should be ridden, in other words she can settle them and ride them patiently which is the key to getting the best out of most racehorses. I would have her in the top half a dozen riding in this country on a par with Moore, Fallon, Hughes, De Sousa and Hanagan. She deserves more rides this winter on the all weather and could easily become the leading all weather jockey this winter with some decent support.

I have a day off today and am going to be doing some research into changing my car, not only research, but I have a test drive planned for later this afternoon which is a bit of a pain because I really wanted to watch all the Racing at Catterick and try and make a few quid. Instead I will be listening to a commission starved salesman trying to sell me anything that has four wheels and a chassis. With a bit of luck I will be home in time for the last where I fancy Spahi to run well. He has De Sousa on board and did not appear to stay 13 furlongs last time. Back in trip by a furlong gives this strong travelling type a chance to run a bigger race today and certainly get involved at the business end. If he does manage to win at least the coffers will be bolstered and that can only benefit the shark who will be trying to sell me a car later on today.

I hope you all have a good day.

Today's Selections

5:20 Catterick – Spahi (each way 4/1 Stan James )