and, better still, to win on the pair of them. Victory in the King George on Kauto Star was the obvious highlight, but winning on Brave Inca at Leopardstown on Friday was a big thrill too. Make that a very satisfying week. Oh, and I even had the privilege of watching AP McCoy carving the Christmas turkey. That's another sight you don't see every day.

The King George was a huge relief every bit as much as it was a thrill. It's often that way when you're on a horse that there's so much expected of. When an animal is as talented as Kauto Star, you're expecting to win more than you're hoping to win. The pressure was on, no question about that.

I was a bit miffed afterwards as to why Kauto Star had made those two mistakes. Having thought about it in the meantime, I reckon that the track had a lot to do with it and that going lefthanded will be a significant help to him in the future. That's because Kauto Star leans on his near-fore. As a result, left-handed tracks like Haydock and Cheltenham come more naturally to him than right-handed tracks like Sandown and Kempton Park.

What pleased me was that he seems to be learning as he gets older - and when you think about it, he hasn't all that much racing done. Last season the two mistakes on Tuesday would have put him on the floor; this season he's learned to stay standing. And the mistake at the last wasn't that serious. I never thought we were going to fall.

The mistake at the fourth-last was a different kettle of fish, however. He changed his mind and stepped into it. "Oh shit, " I said to myself. I honestly thought we were gone. He could easily have flipped over but he extricated himself well enough. He got his legs out from under him . . .

see what I mean about learning as he gets older? - landed galloping and off he went again. Kauto Star has this great ability to keep his hind end low, which is what prevents him from tipping over.

His technique is marvellous. Help him to eradicate the errors and he'd be something else. I'm hopeful he will be.

As it was, he won as he liked. Halfway down the back he was travelling so well that I felt he was an absolute certainty. Rounding the home turn following the first mistake, he was back hard on the bridle. I gave him a few cracks after jumping the second-last and whoosh! If he stays the Gold Cup trip, he'll be very hard to beat come March.

Brave Inca is another horse any jockey would love to ride. He's everything people say about him. A real pro. Hardy, tough as nails, totally honest and genuine, does what you ask him and doesn't have to be told twice. Very classy behind all that as well.

From the time he jumped the secondlast at Leopardstown, we were always going to win. The ground didn't bother him and he jumped super. Whatever angle you look at it from, it was a highly impressive performance. A pity for me that AP will be back on Brave Inca next time out.

All in all, it was a very different Christmas week for me. It was my first time being away from home for Christmas. It was also my first Christmas as a married man. In case you're wondering what presents I got, by the way, here's a clue:

thanks again to Gillian for the lovely shirt and tie.

As there was no point in taking a chance on the weather, not with a mount like Kauto Star lined up for the King George, myself and Gillian took the 5.30pm flight to Heathrow on Christmas Eve. We had Christmas dinner in Tony McCoy's house: ourselves, Mick Fitzgerald and his girlfriend, Carl Llewellyn.

Chanelle McCoy did the cooking and did it very well, although I'll give full marks for artistic impression to Tony for the stylish way he carved the turkey.

One thing about riding at different meetings over Christmas (I saw action at Kempton, Chepstow and Leopardstown) is the opportunity it gives you to see so many other good horses. I was extremely taken with Halcon Genelardais in the Welsh Grand National, for example. In a true-run race, he went to the last fence at speed and quickened up to the winning post. He's one for the Aintree shortlist.

With my Kauto Star hat on me, I was very interested in the outcome of the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown on Thursday. The Listener won impressively and looks exactly the sort for the Irish Hennessy. But I think he'd need very soft ground for the Gold Cup, and Cheltenham in March probably won't be soft enough for him.

De Valira won a high-class novice hurdle from Catch Me on Wednesday; I've a feeling that the form of this race will work out well. I've also a feeling that Fair Along and Wichita Lineman, both of whom won in style at Newbury on Friday, will be leading fancies for their respective races at the Festival.

So that was the week that was. A very satisfying week. I wish they could all be that good.