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Captain's Blog - 9th December 2011

Denman has been retired after suffering a minor injury in preparation for the Lexus Chase. He was a tremendous racehorse with a huge engine who used to grind his opponents into submission and he will be forever remembered for his weight carrying performance in the Hennessey Gold Cup at Newbury in 2009, a race that he won twice and of course he also won a Gold Cup and although lightly raced compared to his stable companion, Kauto Star, he was a real champion.

The International meeting at Cheltenham starts today and I always think this meeting can be of great significance as far as the Festival in March is concerned. I am hoping that Sam Winner can win the opener as I put him up as one of my horses to follow here on the blog earlier this year. He should have won on his debut at Exeter when coming down at the last and I think he can make amends today in receipt of 12 pounds from the Nicky Henderson trained Solix. The 2m 5 Furlong trip should prove ideal and a sever the presence of Ruby Walsh is an added bonus.

The rest of the card is of course of great interest, but it is tomorrow with the International Hurdle as the feature when things get really interesting as far as next years Festival is concerned. I will have a look at the race tomorrow but here is a preliminary thought. If you owned Brampour would you really have decided to let Harry Derham ride the horse again instead of Ruby Walsh? Derham rode him well to win last time but Walsh is different class! Strange.

I am at home today and will be getting a few Christmas jobs done. I am also preparing to go on a Santa run this Sunday. Yes I have the Santa suit and am ready to charge through the rain for three miles all in aid of charity. The run is taking place in Portsmouth and we are running it as a family with the little one in her running buggy. The weather forecast is dreadful which hardly fills me with joy, but I am told we are doing it whatever the weather!! I just hope that the forecast is wrong.

Have a good day folks.

Today's Selection

1.35 Doncaster - Arrow Barrow (each way 13/2 Betfred)