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Captain's Blog - 2nd November 2011

I have started to look at the Breeders’ Cup races and have bought the past performances through www.drf.com. These form sheets provide all the information you need including the all-important Beyer speed figures.

I will have a further look today and will report back tomorrow on the Classic, the Turf and the Mile, all of which have significant European interest. I am a massive fan of the event and am looking forward to Saturday night when, armed with laptop, form sheets all over the floor, a large cheese burger and a six pack of Budweiser, I will be trying to back a few winners live from Churchill Downs. Given that I will be sinking a few cold ones there is more chance of me backing a winner at the start of the evening, but a Budweiser-influenced loser is miles better than a normal loser!

I am back in the studio today and Dave Yates will be my guest for some synthetic action at Kempton. As ever your thoughts are welcome so please do mail us at the usual address ([email protected]).

There are plenty of issues that I am sure you want to talk about and I would be interested in your Breeders’ Cup thoughts and reflections on the fabulous finish to the Melbourne Cup in which Christophe Lemaire was magnificent. That is my opinion, you may think differently, if so please mail us.

It was a wretched day for Richard Johnson yesterday. He would have won on both Captain Chris and Menorah had he not been unseated from both horses in the closing stages of their respective races at Exeter. Going forward I think both horses look as good as ever and Menorah seemed to take to chasing quite comfortably before the error that cost him the race. If his and Johnson’s confidence have not been adversely affected they should be a partnership to bet on next time out. Johnson must have felt terrible as he left the course and if I was his cat I would have gone out for a prowl around before he got home and launched me into orbit.

I was very pleased to bag a winner in the SkyBet tipping competition yesterday. I said at the beginning of the week that I just wanted to get one winner to avoid humiliation and that aim has been achieved courtesy of Shalambar yesterday.

Yes I followed the money and did some research into the horse’s record on the back of the strong morning support, but I am not worried about how I decided to go for him in the competition. Who cares, he won and that is all that matters.

The final race at Nottingham is the next round in the competition and I will be having a look at it as soon as I am finished here.

Enjoy your day folks.

Today's Selection

7.10 Kempton - Norse Blues (each way)