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Captain's Blog - 20th February 2012

I am heading to the studio today to help out with our coverage of all the action from Carlisle. I will do so with something of a spring in my step after our two blog selections obliged on Saturday at 7/2 and 9/2. Giles Cross and Lovcen both hit the target for us and I am sure you will agree they were much needed. Onwards and upwards now and hopefully we will have a decent end to the month.

News broke over the weekend that Richard Hills will retire from the saddle at the end of the Dubai International Carnival. He has had a long and trouble free career, half of it spent riding for Hamdam Al Maktoum and won every Classic except the Derby. My own personal memories of him are that he was an excellent jockey from the front, his win on Summoner in the QUE11 at Ascot in 2001 was a ride that sums him up and there were plenty more rides that mirrored that one. He may not have been the strongest jockey in a finish but there are not many jockeys out there who have a complete grasp of every aspect of race riding. Above all I believe he was the ultimate team player, a loyal man who was always fully dedicated to Hamdan Al Maktoum and to the Shadwell operation. Such loyalty is tough to find this day and age and in Richard Hills the Sheikh had the perfect jockey for what he required. I wish Richard well in his retirement and continued success with the Shadwell operation for which I am sure he will continue to play an important part.

There has been much debate about the performance of Long Run at Newbury on Friday. Some believe it was a decent performance and a perfect tune up for the Gold Cup, for others it was a below par effort that is in line with other efforts this season. I think he was below par and has been all season. Everybody keeps saying that Kauto Star is as good as he has ever been, which I cannot agree with given his age, perhaps he seems better than ever because Long Run is not as good this year as he was last.

Time for me to head to the office, on what is the start of a very busy week for me on .

All the best.

Today's Selections

3.05 Carlisle - Political Paddy (each way 20/1 Bet 365)