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Captain's Blog - 1st April 2011

The figures gave us a winner here on the blog yesterday at 15/8 to end an already decent month with a winner. Now we are into a new month and the challenge has to be to improve on what we did in March. Once you stop trying to improve you stop winning, all you have to do is look at Raymond Van Barneveld to know this.

Last night he once again capitulated in the 8th round of the Premier League darts tournament. He was thrashed by the mercurial Phil Taylor and in truth looked a beaten man as soon as he walked onto the stage. As soon as he went behind his head dropped, he lost his discipline and the darts went west. If only he had sought more improvement after he beat Taylor in the World Championship final a few years ago, if only he had kicked on from there! Now he is a pale shadow of the man who was once World Champion, a beaten up darts player who can still throw nine dart finishes but cannot handle pressure. Of course he will always win matches but beating Taylor in front of 20,000 people all singing there's only one Phil Taylor is a completely different ball game and he cannot play it. On the other hand Adrian Lewis is maturing into a fine player who can beat Taylor, he is the current World Champion and unlike Barny he has taken his game to another level using the tag of World Champion to improve his game and temprament rather than folded tamely under the pressure that it must bring.

I am at home today and then will be back in the office tomorrow to present Mark Your Card from the Studio and to help out the team at Kempton Park during the afternoon. For today will be bringing you flat Racing from Mussleburgh. I always enjoy the Racing at Mussleburgh where a winner from Jim Goldie is almost compulsory every race meeting as is an interview with . Big Jim has four runners today and it would not be a surprise to see him in the winners enclosure.

Time to call it a day once again here on the blog. All the best.

Today’s Selection

7:10 Wolverhampton - Majuro (sp)