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Captain's Blog - 9th November 2011

Hawk Mountain obliged for us here on the blog yesterday at restrictive odds and in doing so stamped himself as quite a useful prospect. His career will be better for having the excellent Dougie Costello on board as well. A better class hurdle at two and a half miles awaits him.

I am in the studio today for all the action from Kempton Park. Yes we have an eight race bonanza for you from Sunbury and I will be joined by James Willoughby for the duration of the show. As I always say here on the blog, please do get in touch as your e-mails really do help the show swing along. You set the agenda and we will run with it!

The Paddy Power meeeting at Cheltenham is nearly upon us and it is always a fascinating meeting in its own right as well as being one that provides significant pointers to the Festival in March. Course form at Cheltenham is vital and that is why this meeting has such a bearing on the big one. Having said that one trap is worth avoiding and that is to presume that the winner of the Greatwood Hurdle is worth backing for the Champion Hurdle. Since 1988 no winner of the Greatwood has gone on to take the Champion Hurdle. The International Hurdle in December is a better guide. These are stats that are quite compelling but remember stats merely tell us what has happened in the past and are not a guide to what is going to happen in the future and one day a Greatwood winner will win the Champion.

I feel somewhat lucky to be with you this morning after cycling home last night in the dark with the rain pouring down, lights glaring and commuters rushing to get home as fast as possible. I am a driver and thus know how annoying bikes can be especially when they are three and four deep on the road pretending to be riding a Tour De France, but when you are riding tight to the kerb and they still brush your cycling jacket with their wing mirrors you know you are in trouble. The hazardous nature of the journey last night pushed me to a personal best time though, it is amazing how the adrenalin kicks in when you need it most!

Right time for me to call it a day.

Please join in the show tonight.

Today's Selection

4.00 Southwell - Punching