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Captain's Blog - 22nd August 2011

Parlour Games was a nice 12/1 winner for us here on the blog on Saturday. That followed on from Chookie Hamilton earlier in the week at the same price. It was nice to turn over a profit and, with a bit of luck, and some decent speed figures on offer we will hopefully repeat the dose this week.

There has been some criticism of the York track after the Ebor meeting. There is no doubt that it is not what it was and I do think it is a lot tougher for punters to find winners there now than it was, but I think some of the criticism has been a little over the top. The track rides well and there is no draw bias whatsoever these days. Equally there is no part of the track that rides better than any other part. This makes it hard for punters because, as I have said before, a draw or track bias is the a punters' friend and should be embraced. Some wish that it could be like the good old days when a low draw on the round track was an advantage and where the joggers' track provided a lovely compacted piece of ground near the far side rail. Yes I would like it to be like that again as well, but those days are gone folks I am afraid. At the end of the day we do not have to bet at York if we find it too tough and if trainers do not like the track they do not have to run their horses there.

A last minute equaliser for Leeds at West Ham yesterday put the icing on the cake of a lovely day. We met up with my brother and sister-in-law and went out for a picnic in Windsor Great Park before returning home for a BBQ. The day was very enjoyable and for Leeds to deny the Hammers three points in the last minute away from home rounded off a lovely afternoon. I even managed to cook burgers and sausages without burning them which if you knew about my previous record with a Barbeque is in essence a miracle.

As for today we are going for a run later on to remove the excess of yesterday and then will be chilling out in the garden whilst the decent weather lasts.

Today's Selection

5.50 Windsor - Elegant Flight (each way 11/2 various firms)