Tweet

racing news / captain's blog /

Captain's Blog - 11th March 2011

The team are busy, very busy putting together everything you need to enjoy the Cheltenham Festival. The ofice is buzzing and tips and different views on the big races are flying around. On top of all the preparation for next week there is a busy day ahead of us today with three jump meetings to keep us honest. We will be based at Sandown where Lydia and Steve will be providing cogent analysis and as ever plenty of winners. We will also be taking in the Racing from Wincanton and Ayr. I will be in the booth helping out and also handling Racing Replay. After today I have three days to save as much energy as I can before launching myself full length into the festival for which I will be in the booth for all four days. Bring it on!

As far as the blog is concerned during the Festival I am planning to post my usual musings in the morning between 9.30am and 10.00am. I will then be posting an update at 12:00 with some more thoughts that have developed as a result of our morning coverage form the track. As per last year I will be posting selections first thing but there may be additions at 12:00. This system worked a treat last year when I was able to crunch some numbers during our morning coverage and then put up Pause and Clause at 12.00 who duly obliged. I will try and repeat the trick this year folks but whilst I can guarantee the blog being written I am making no bold predictions about the selections.

The other day I wrote about the Champion Hurdle and said that I felt Oscar Whisky would go well. Having watched a feature on played out yesterday where Nicky Henderson discussed his Cheltenham prospects I am worried. Apparently both he and Barry Geraghty feel that the horse is a stayer and would get three miles. This probably means that he will be ridden prominently and aggresively in an attempt to make his perceived stamina come into play. For me this would be a mistake, he is all speed in my book, travels well and has a change of gear. In my opinion he would be best employed ridden patiently in midfield. They may employ those tactics but I have my doubts and out of those doubts comes a reluctance on my part to have a bet. This horse has loads of speed and surely it should be used at the end of the race rather than earlier. I may be talking nonsense but it is an opinion and that is what this great game of ours is all about.

I am going to sign off now as I need to make my way to the office to get ready for a busy day. All the best.

Today’s Selection

5:50 Wolverhampton - Yankee Storm (e/w)