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Captain's Blog - 31st January 2011

I rose on Sunday morning to the sound of my daughter deciding it was time for breakfast, which it was in her world, but it being only 5.00am I did not really feel like knocking up a bacon sarnie right at that moment. I did feel like getting up though if only to watch us spectacularly lose the one day series against the Aussies and then to watch the almost inevitable defeat of Andy Murray in the Australian open. I did expect him to lose but also felt he would put up a decent fight rather than capitulate in the manner of someone who likes the idea of winning and is talented enough to win a Grand Slam but does not at this stage of his career really want to win. His demise and that of the England cricket team was a disappointing way to start any Sunday but these minor reversals were soon to pale into insignificance on the receipt of a phone call from Ireland to tell me that one of my closest friends had died suddenly and totally unexpectedly on Friday aged 52. Please allow me a little self-indulgence now as it will help you know.

Kevin Steeper and I go back a good few years now and he was a caring and genuine person who was always there. That sounds a bit goofy doesn’t it, but I don’t care because it was true. Kev and I lost touch for a number of years a while ago which was entirely my fault and when I eventually picked up the phone to call him he answered my tentative hello with a ” how are you doing Gus, fancy a beer?” That was him in a nutshell, he never held grudges, had time for just about everybody and was great company. We would play golf together which was really an excuse for a pint or two on a Sunday because neither of us were any good at the damn game. We went on a lads holiday to Dubai, a place he grew to love and went on to visit every year and whenever we could we would chat about Racing until the bar ran dry. He loved Racing and we regularly went to Epsom together. Cheltenham was his favourite place though, he went every year and I shall miss his day 1 of the Festival text this time around asking for a tip, they never won but he always came back for more! He was also a Racehorse owner and was part of the syndicate that owned My Best Valentine when that horse won the Stewards Cup and Prix de l’Abbaye. He loved the beast and the thrill that ownership brought him was a drug that never left him. More recently a horse called Toshach Nua gave him a winner in Ireland. Yes I will miss not having him on the end of the phone to chew the fat with and to laugh with for he had a dry and engaging sense of humour. Even in some of the darker times that life can bring he always managed to see the funny side and that is a rare commodity these days. He was in short my mate who I will miss very much, but the memories are many and fond and they will be treasured. God bless Kev and in case you are reading this I would have told you to back Binocular in the Champion Hurdle!

Many thanks for indulging me with that folks. Time for me to make my way to the office for a stint in the booth. Enjoy all the action on today and I will be back tomorrow with some more thoughts.

All the best.

Today’s Selection

2:05 Wolverhampton – Memphis Man (each way at SP)