GRAEME RODWAY

Weblog:  On the Ten To Follow trail

Kauto makes me pay, somehow!

So he won? Did he? Really? Well you could have fooled me. Kauto or no Kauto was the question, no Kauto was the answer, and as usual he made me pay as my plan of getting him beaten at Haydock went awry, somehow!

Disappointed, so disappointed. I would have staked big money on Imperial Commander in the photo and I haven't yet seen conclusive proof that shows Kauto Star's nose infront.  I know one thing, though, and that is that judge Mark Ritchie-Noakes has clearly got better eyes than me, because I can't split 'em.

Kauto's victory just added insult to injury because after Notre Pere had run like a real slow boat and Madison Du Berlais was beaten half the straight into third, I knew my list was in trouble, but I consoled myself with the thought that at least he'd got beaten, so I'd lost no ground on my rivals. But when I heard Noakes call the resultit was like I'd been twelve rounds with Mike Tyson and not only had he beaten me to a pulp, but he'd also bitten off half my ear for good measure.

Now I'm recovering and luckily the only reconstructive surgery that needs doing is thatwhich I need to do to my list, but sadly I have to wait until February for that chance and the bonus window can't come quickly enough.

The weekend's disappointment came hot on the heels of a frustrating opening weekend, where we saw Tranquil Sea - my other Paddy Power Gold Cup possible - bolt up with Tarotino jumping like a crab and eventually being pulled up. Then Master Minded got turned over, and I was beginning to contemplate a blank opening weekend before Solwhit came to my rescue with an impressive victory over Hurricane Fly at Fairyhouse. He is the shining star in my rather average-looking list.

So it's Hennessy or bust for me. Cappa Bleu simply must win to keep me in with a chance as I've given up a 25-point head start to the whole field by not having Kauto.

What do we reckon about Cappa? It looks to me that everything is coming just right, and I fancy him getting the best part of two-stone from Denman.

In the battleof the blogs, Hutton's late and controversial switch from Tartak to Tranquil Sea is paying dividends now after Kauto sprung him into the lead, relegating Robbie Hennessy to second, as his decision to go with an all Irish list backfired due to the lack ofKauto. Meanwhile at the bottom....hold on....you can work that one out for yourselves, I'm saying nothing except there's still a long way to go!

Ten To Follow - The Battle Of The Blogs

Ben Hutton
Tranquil Sea - 54
Kauto Star - 25
Big Buck's                  
Binocular
Carruthers
Denman
Hurricane Fly
Master Medic
Master Minded
Mikael d'Haguenet
TOTAL: 79

Robbie Hennessy
Solwhit - 25
Sizing Europe - 20
Dunguib - 10
Big Zeb
Cooldine
Hurricane Fly
Mikael D'Haguenet
Notre Pere
Shinrock Paddy
Sublimity
TOTAL: 55

Philip Fenton
Kauto Star- 25
Dunguib - 10
Quel Esprit - 10
Big Bucks
Mikael D'Haguenet
Master Minded
Rare Bob
Cooldine
Hurricane Fly
Kalahari King
TOTAL: 45

Steve Dennis
Kauto Star - 25
Pettifour - 12
Big Buck's
Carruthers
Celestial Halo
Den Of Iniquity
Imperial Commander
Kalahari King
Osana
Sicilian Secret
TOTAL:37

Graeme Rodway
Solwhit - 25
Big Buck's
Binocular
Cappa Bleu
Cooldine
Crack Away Jack
Madison Du Berlais
Master Minded
Notre Pere
Tarotino
TOTAL: 25

Lee Mottershead
Kauto Star - 25
Big Buck's
Binocular
Celestial Halo
Denman -
Forpadydeplasterer
Kalahari King
Master Minded
Tatenen
Tricky Trickster
TOTAL: 25