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Captain's Blog - 21st November 2011

It is good to be back after a short break. We went away for a few days last week and whilst a holiday with a ten month old baby is not a holiday in the real sense of the word, a change is as good as a rest and I really enjoyed getting away from Racing and all the issues that surround this great game of ours. I really did isolate myself from Racing completely and only allowed myself to dip back into the game for the Betfair Chase on Saturday. I will need to get back on the horse again today though as I am in the Studio all afternoon helping with the coverage from Kempton and Ludlow, fortunately I will have Jonathan Neesom as my wing man providing us with cogent analysis and more importantly a few winners.

Kauto Star was impressive on Saturday where the relative test of speed suited him. I have always felt he was a horse whose main asset was his speed and three miles on decent ground on a flat track is right up his street. This is hardly a revelation of startling proportions after all his Kempton record tells us what suits him best. We did learn that he is no back number and those who had written him off after the Gold Cup last year will have spent much of Sunday slaving away in the kitchen baking humble pie. What are we to make of Long Run's display? I think he ran perfectly well and as he did last year will improve as the season continues. He will need to jump better though indeed his jumping is his Achilles heel, when he gets it right as he did twice on big occasions last season he can be devastating but he would never be a horse to take a short price about given his propensity to clout one or two fences.

I really was hoping to return to the fray to find out that the BHA had decided to scrap the new whip rules and had ordered a return to the old ones, unfortunately there is more chance of Aliens landing on my lawn tonight. I make no apology for banging on about this again because if anything is worth fighting for it is worth fighting for to the death and those that oppose the new rules must not role over. I will keep on about this from time to time for obvious reasons and make no apology if you are somewhat bored of the whole thing.

Right, back to the studio today for the first time in a week. Do join us later today on your favourite Racing Channel.

It’s good to be back. Take it easy out there.

Today's Selection

1.30 Kempton - Elyaadi (4/1 various firms)