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Captain's Blog - 19th March 2011

Long Run won the Gold Cup yesterday in a record time to the acclaim of the massed ranks at Cheltenham and almost immediaely people were saying it was the greatest steeplechase ever to be run, the best in a lifetime and all that kind of thing. I have no problem with enthusiasm nor do I have a problem with the performance of Long Run, but we need to keep things in perspective because without perspective we lose the gift of analysis.

Long Run is a really good horse who at six years of age could yet be one of the best we have ever seen, but he has a way to go yet. I was a huge fan of Ghostzapper as a racehorse and I went beserk when he won the Breeders Cup Classic at Lone Star Park, but he was not even close to being as good as Secretariat. Perspective is important and whilst the sight of Kauto, Denman and Long Run powering up the hill at Cheltenham was exilirating we must keep a lid on such fanciful ideas that he is the greatest Gold Cup winner of all time. Yes it was the fastest Gold Cup win since Looks Like Trouble took the crown, but the ground was the fastest we have seen for some time for a Gold Cup and anyway raw times mean absolutely nothing unless converted into a figure that takes into account a proper track variant. I am sure Long Run ran a big number but we must be cautious until we know just how big.

I am fairly drained after a long four days in the booth and I was up at 4.00am with my daughter, I may just nod off as I type and if so I apologise. I have a trip to the pub for lunch to look forward to and also some quality Rugby League tonight as St Helens take on Leeds Rhinos. I am looking forward to that. For now it is time to get out into the garden with my family for a coffee and a little bit of weeding.

We achieved a 32 point profit at Cheltenham this year here on the blog so I do not feel too much pressure as regards today's selection but the show must go on.

Alll the best.

Today’s Selection

2:55 Lingfield - Lopinot (each way 4/1 Sky Bet )