"Hello everyone, I hope you all have had wonderful Christmases and I'd like to wish you all a very Happy New year, l hope it's a good one for all of you.

Boxing Day bonanza

Christmas is always a pretty busy time for me, with so many meetings on Boxing Day you're always looking to and hoping you pick the right meeting to go to, and this year I think I did. I had four nice rides at Wincanton, but with 10st on one for them there wasn't a lot of Christmas dinner for me this year! Unfortunately l just got touched off in the big race of the day on a little horse called Shoreacres for trainer Brendan Powell, but thankfully we got a winner on the Nick Williams' trained Swincombe Flame, so it wasn't a bad day at all with a winner and second.

Awesome Kauto

Okay, so how awesome was Kauto Star in the King George? After being upsides him for the first mile-and-a half in the Betfair Chase at Haydock in Kauto's previous race, I gained a whole new respect for the horse. It's the ease in which he gallops and jumps that is just so remarkable, and to be still doing it at the ripe old age of 11 (or 12 now that 1 January has been and gone) is amazing. So much credit must go to his trainer Paul Nicholls, who kept the faith in Kauto when so many others said he should be retired. What a great training performance, and from a jockey's point of view well all I can say is I wish I was Ruby Walsh.

Keeping busy

I've been very busy every day since Boxing Day too, which is a good thing. I picked up my first ride in the Welsh National on a horse called Indifference Curve, he gave me a great spin for two-and-a-half miles and jumped really well, but just got tired very quickly so I had to pull him up before four out. I then had a nice trip to Musselburgh in Scotland on New Year's Day for three rides - a long drive but unfortunately no joy!

Well 2011 had its ups and downs and I'm sure 2012 will too, but with the support from some owners and trainers and from my fabulous sponsor Mayiclaim I'm trying very hard to put myself in the position to make sure I have a lot more ups in 2012.

Happy New Year,"

William