Tweet

racing news / captain's blog /

Captain's Blog - Wednesday 31st October

I am keen to add to my Breeders Cup portfolio here on the blog, but for now I have no new selections. There will be more to follow in the next few days and here is a reminder of my book so far.

Breeders’ Cup Ladies Classic - Royal Delta
Breeders’ Cup Mile - Wise Dan
Breeders’ Cup Turf - St Nicholas Abbey

I keep wanting to back Game On Dude in the Classic on Saturday, but then I will read different articles and watch previous races that simply send me into a spiral of confusion. In becoming confused I am simply breaking my own golden rule that racing is best kept simple and best studied by cutting through all the variables that confuse the essential and most important issue - which is who can run fastest.

We know that Game On Dude is fast and loves Santa Anita so I am not quite sure why I am dithering so badly, but as of yet selecting Game On Dude does not feel right and sometimes this game is as much about feel as cold hard fact. Tomorrow will be judgement day for the Classic at least as far as I am concerned. I know I will select Game On Dude, but I just need to be comfortable with the whole thing.

My selection yesterday was Conry at Catterick who won at 7/2. I know a winner! Please don't keel over in shock. Today I am keen on the chances of Suraj in the opener at Haydock. He could be a useful recruit to the hurdling game. His Flat form is superior to those whom he races against today and in testing conditions he is certain to get the trip. In fact being a horse who stays two miles at flat pace this may not be enough of a test, but he should still be good enough to make a winning start to his hurdling career.

Today I am working in the studio covering all the action from Nottingham this afternoon. I was keen to find a selection there for today, but soft ground end-of-season Flat action at a lowly level is a tough medium for winner finding. All I can add to your efforts of finding a winner there today is that it will be hard to make up ground from off the pace on the round track and on the straight course the stands rail may well be the place to be. Racing there today should carry a punters’ wealth warning.

Time for me to head off to the office. Have a good Halloween.

All the best.

Today's Selection

1.40 Haydock - 4* Suraj

* If I have a strong view about a selection I will always make that apparent and I scale the confidence I have in my selections. One is minimum faith and 10 is maximum bet stuff.