HAPPY BIRTHDAY ME -- 30th APRIL 1969 - 2016

Another year older, another year closer to death. Hee Hee. 

So what to do? Well I always make sure I am never at work on my birthday and this year was to be no exception, booked some leave and enjoyed a fun few days out and about keeping busy. 

Starting on Wednesday which was a day out to Ascot races, together with my big brother and few other faces. 

It's an annual thing going racing for this meeting, usually a nice day out, plenty to see and do and we'll cover the racing side of things over on a separate post. 

Then on Thursday going to Brighton for the day, already pre-booked train tickets on Southern Railways at the nice price of £5 !! Enjoyable day out taking in the sea air, a ride down to the marina and see the boats, back along the beach on Volks Electric Railway [Link] that runs right along the front back up to the Pier. Stroll along the pier itself, grab some lunch and a pint in the Victoria's bar.

Friday will be up in town, possibly Regents Park area and then Westfield in Shepherds Bush, just having a nose around and people watch but do like to try and find something new for myself for my birthday pressie (since no one else is going to get me one) 

Get yourself something nice ...

how about a new guitar !

All in all though it's been a fun week and very busy, here's to the next 12 months till we do it all again. 

ASCOT RACES SAGARO STAKES MEETING - WEDNESDAY 27th APRIL 2016. (BIRTHDAY MEETING)

A midweek day out to Ascot this week, this is an annual event for us although numbers have sadly dwindled recently, but to celebrate my advancing years we decamp to Ascot races for their midweek fixture featuring the Gold Cup trial the Group 3 Sagaro Stakes. 

The card is good quality for a midweek meeting with another Group 3 (Pavilion Stakes) and a listed event (Paradise Stakes) and the only change to the card is that the concluding handicap, the only handicap on the card, is now for apprentice's but still has a 17 runner max field over the straight mile.

Here's a link to the days racecard;
http://www.sportinglife.com/racing/meeting/ascot/27-04-2016/fast-cards

There is a bit of a chill in the air and possible forecast for a drop of rain in the afternoon however we will have a fun day out come what may, it's the nearest local meeting to my birthday and always better than being at work. 

Here are my selections for this meeting;

2.10 - 5f Conditions Stakes (2yo) 
Our midweek event gets underway with a decent looking 2yo race over the minimum trip. Usually a race that Richard Hannon (Snr) would have a good one ready and his son runs a pair today. INNER CIRCLE / STERLING SILVER would have a shout but I really like the inclusion of the American trained filly CREATE A DREAM [WON 5/1] over from Wesley Ward's yard early for the summer.


2.45 - 1m Conditions Stakes (3yo Fillies)
A small field of five next for the mile conditions event, all three year old fillies and LIGHT UP OUT WORLD looks a short fav for the Hannon yard here too. 

Has had a run earlier this year so fit and ready, and does seem to be well ahead on official ratings in this company. If anything can give her a race it seems to be RAAQY [2nd 7/1] if fit enough on season debut. 


3.20 - 2m Sagaro Stakes (Group 3)
What is usually the feature race on the card now shares top billing with the Pavilion Stakes as the G3 contests here, this seems to be an excellent renewal with plenty of contenders for the Gold Cup including the useful FLYING OFFICER. 

This John Gosden inmate won three last year and that included a Group 2 here, so assuming fit to go first time up (and was last year) must be backed with Frankie on his fav course too. 

BURMESE also won here over 2m and looks a lively outsider trying to step up. 


3.55 - 6f Pavilion Stakes (3yo) (Group 3)
Another cracking contest and it's interesting that Aiden O'Brien brings over WASHINGTON DC to contest this when there are options over in Ireland, should have a big following with Ryan Moore booked. 

I've had a whisper for PRICELESS as one to follow so appeals here at 12/1 and is the one for me Win/Place. 

4.30 - 1m Paradise Stakes (Listed)
AROD is the one to get back in the groove here, a great season was ended when tried in top company in Hong Kong and this should be more to his liking where a repeat of his Sussex Stakes run would be more than sufficient. 

MOHEET should have a chance with Dettori booked. 


5.00 - 1m Apprentice Handicap
17 here for the finale, all apprentices, SABRE ROCK was on excellent form but has been off more than a year, and all of those wins were on the AW. 

BASTILLE DAY should go well for Adam McLean and has been apprentice ridden for most of his career.

Results will appear here during Wednesday evening, if I'm sober enough to update things then. But also check out the Pontefract blog too which is also taking place today.





HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME !! 
(for Saturday ... )

PONTEFRACT HORSE RACING SYSTEM -- 2016 TURF SEASON -- PART THREE

PONTEFRACT SEASON 2016
Wednesday 27th April
3rd Meeting of this season ...

So we are off and running for this season at Pontefract racecourse, West Yorkshire. After the first couple of meetings we are pleased to be showing a generous profit +17.125 points to SP.

We quickly move onto our 3rd meeting of the season, this Wednesday afternoon which should be a nice spring day and we'll hope for a few winners today too.

All results for this meeting are returned to a level stake at SP, and will also show any forecast results too in the daily results but these do not count for the profit / loss figures.

The forecast going is currently reported as 'Good to Soft' the weather for Wednesday is for a mixed day in the most part, could be a few drops of rain in the afternoon but for April is not too bad top temp is 9C during race time.

Here are our selections for the 8 race card on Wednesday afternoon, remember it's a very simple selection process of stalls 1 and 2 in every race;


2:00 5f Novice Stakes (2yo).
SEMINOLE DREAM -- N/R.
WHITE ROYALE -- 4th 12/1.


2:35 1m 2f 6y Maiden (3yo).
MR TURNER -- 8th 50/1.
TIMEKEEPING -- 2nd 9/4.


3:10 1m 4y Handicap.
LE LAITIER -- 4th 25/1.
SAMSONITE -- 5th 14/1.


3:45 1m 2f 6y Fillies Handicap.
MALEFICENT QUEEN -- WON 11/8F.
COSMIC HALO -- 5th 11/1.


4:15 6f Handicap.
TICKS THE BOXES -- 11th 9/1.
FAST SHOT -- 7th 5/2F.


4:50 5f Handicap (Div 1).
AVENUE OF STARS -- WON 9/2.
ZAIN EMPEROR -- 8th 7/4F.


5:25 5f Handicap (Div 2).
WISHSONG -- 3rd 7/1.
PICCARDO -- 8th 9/1.


6:00 5f Apprentice Handicap.
BURTONWOOD -- 2nd 9/2.
TAFFETTA -- 3rd 15/8F.


Staked -- 16 points
Returned -- 8.875 points (only 2 winners, 1 N/R)

b/f from meeting #2 -- +17.125 points Profit
#3 now reduced to +10 points Profit over to the next meeting in May.

Results will appear here on Wednesday evening and our next meeting will be on Friday 27th May.

Have a good day.

PONTEFRACT RACES 2016 SEASON

PONTEFRACT HORSE RACING SYSTEM -- 2016 TURF SEASON -- PART TWO

PONTEFRACT SEASON 2016

MONDAY 18th APRIL

Their second meeting of the new flat season ... 

Yes it's great to be back and off and running for this season at Pontefract, West Yorkshire. Our opening meeting was almost break even but showed a small -0.375 loss which was manageable given that we record to SP only and would have beaten those odds with our winners.

This is our second meeting of the season, on the Monday afternoon which should be a nice spring day and we'll hope for a few more winners today.

All results for this meeting are returned to a level stake at SP, and will also show any forecast results too in the daily results but these do not count for the profit / loss figures.

The forecast going is currently reported as 'Good' the weather for Monday is for a cloudy but generally dry day in the most part, could be a few drops of rain in the afternoon but for April is not too bad top temp is 12C during race time.

Here are our selections for Monday afternoon, remember it's a very simple selection process of stalls 1 and 2 in every race;


2:10 5f Novice Stakes (2yo).

SPRINGWOOD -- WON 11/2.

QUEENS PARADE -- 6th 50/1.


2:40 1m 4y Handicap (Div 1).

TERHALL -- 2nd 11/4F.

TRINITY STAR -- 3rd 6/1.


3:10 6f Handicap.

RELATED -- 8th 6/1.

PERFECT PASTURE -- WON 14/1.


3:40 2m 5f 122yds Handicap (Stayers Championship Series).
MR SNOOZY -- 10th 8/1.

AMERICAN LIFE -- WON 9/2.


4:10 6f Maiden.
BIT OF A QUIRKE -- 5th 66/1.

DOUGLAS BANK -- 4th 100/1.

4:45 5f Handicap.
TAFFETTA -- 2nd 3/1.

JOHNNY B GOODE -- 4th 11/4.

5:15 1m 4y Handicap (Div 2).

ARCANO GOLD -- WON 7/2.

KIWI BAY -- 6th 8/1.

Staked -- 14 points
Returned -- 31.5 points
Profit -- +17.5 points this week

C/F from meeting #2 -- +17.125 profit


Great set of result today, turning a healthy profit figure to SP and much better to early prices. Hopefully more of the same next Wednesday 27th April, the same day as I will be at Ascot races for my birthday day out and both meetings will be covered on this blog.

Have a good day.

PONTEFRACT RACES 2016 SEASON

KEMPTON PARK RACES 2016 -- WEDNESDAY NIGHTS #15 13th APRIL

Last week we dropped another 3 points which has quickly taken us up to -27 points loss overall. Not as good as recent seasons but still time to recover things. At least the places paid a little bit and the LAY bets are also still losing (or winning, depending on your view) so I'm optimistic that things will turn in our favour soon.

As always our focus will be on the handicap contests for each meeting but will occasionally include a feature listed or conditions event too. Keeping records of our endeavours to a 1pt level stake at SP, naturally we will personally be looking to get better odds but for the purpose of the results we record to SP.

We will keep up with our occasional lay opportunity of short priced favourites and as a result of yet another successful lay last week we have a success rate of 7 from 7. Results for this will be kept separately too and hopefully we can remain at 100% for a long while yet.

This week there's an 8 race card on offer, 7 of which are handicaps following the division of the 7f handicap at 18:50 and the meeting will commence at 17:50 with a 1m 4f Handicap.

Here is a link to the evenings race card;
http://www.sportinglife.com/racing/meeting/kempton-park/13-04-2016/fast-cards

The going on the polytrack surface as usual is described as Standard and the current weather forecast is for a patchy day with some clouds and a chance of some heavy showers. 
The temperature is likely to remain at about 16C when the meetings begins and will cool during the evening.

Here are our selections for this weeks handicaps, bit pushed for time this week so just the selections for now and will try and update a bit more later on;

17:50 -- 1m 4f Handicap.

BOLLIHOPE -- 3rd 11/2.
DUKE OF DIAMONDS -- 7th 20/1.


18:50 -- 7f Handicap (Div 1).

EXALTED -- 3rd 9/4F.
MISU PETE -- 6th 5/1.

19:20 -- 7f Handicap (Div 2).
GEORGE BAKER -- 6th 20/1.

DIAMONDS A DANCING -- 8th 12/1.

19:50 -- 2m Handicap.

Best event on the card is this Class 3 stayers handicap over the 2m distance. They've declared 8 for this so hopefully no non runners on the day, top weight is HIGHLAND CASTLE [6th 14/1] who can be excused his finishing position last time since the saddle slipped leaving his rider no chance, should be closer this time around if they tighten up the belts. 

KNIGHTS PARADE [4th 20/1] is our other selection and is a dual purpose horse, campaigned over in Ireland with Gordon Elliott until recently, won a nice race at Chelmsford end Feb and should give a good account at a reasonable price.


20:20 -- 1m Handicap (London Mile Series).

Next best race on the card in terms of quality here, this series does through up a few repeat matches, and for me I will want to be on both MEZMAAR [8th 6/1] / FREIGHT TRAIN [11th 14/1] against the field tonight.

Are both about 14/1 in the market, while Freight Train has the worst of the draw does have the top jockey on board and a good break should see him overcome that disadvantage. 


20:50 -- 6f Handicap.

LIGHTNING CHARLIE -- 3rd 11/4.
OAT COUTURE -- 5th 20/1.


21:20 -- 6f Handicap (3yo).

AFRICAN SHOWGIRL -- 5th 40/1.
CANFORD BELLE -- 7th 12/1.


Staked -- 14 points
Returns -- NIL points (Nothing, very frustrating).

Loss c/f -- -41 Points

Lays -- 7/7 (None tonight so still a perfect record 100%).

Results will be posted during the evening, we now take a short break from the Wednesday nights here as the next evening meeting is on Wednesday 18th May according to my fixture list. 

Enjoy the break, we'll still have regular updates for Pontefract and my birthday meeting at Ascot to look forward to. 

2016 CRABBIE'S GRAND NATIONAL WINNER

And the winner is ... 

RULE THE WORLD 33/1
2016 GRAND NATIONAL WINNER

Congratulations!!

AINTREE GRAND NATIONAL DAY -- SATURDAY 9th APRIL 2016

This coming weekend it's The Grand National at Aintree, the biggest and most watched steeplechase contest there is. If you going then good luck and hope you enjoy a wonderful time. 





Like millions of others I will not be going and instead catching it on Ch4 TV. They've changed the timing of this years race so it's near the end of the card, I can only assume this is to try and gain a bigger TV audience. 

The forecast going is SOFT now and this 4m 2f+ trip will take some getting in that ground, but hopefully not as desperate as the year Red Marauder won when only 4 horses finished the course (and two of those had to remount to complete). 


Last years winner MANY CLOUDS (left) is likely to be favourite to achieve a repeat success unless plenty of money comes in for something else. 
Of course we all know that winning twice let alone back to back hasn't been done since Red Rum in the early 1970's but he's in good form and young enough to still have some improvement in him over this unique test. 

There's a feast of good jumping before we get to the main event towards the end of the card, we will have a brief look through these when the final declarations are out and give some selections for the accompanying races.


13.45 The Aintree Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3) 3m ½f
Wide open contest to open, no short prices here (unlike next few races), will give SQUOUATEUR another chance having been well supported at Cheltenham. 

And at a decent EW price MINELLA DADDY.


14.25 The EZ Trader Mersey Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m 4f

The next few races feature extremely long odds on favs, such as YORKHILL here who is unbeaten under rules including recent wins in G1 company. 

With only the 7 runners there's not much room for an alternative so the forecast selection is LE PREZIEN from the Paul Nicholls yard. 

15.00 The Doom Bar Maghull Novices' Steeple Chase (Grade 1) 2m
A simple enough task on paper for DOUVAN and will be very very short odds to supplement his win at Cheltenham here.

At a decent EW price for the place money could be worth looking at FOX NATION who was third behind Douvan in the Arkle three weeks ago.


15.40 The Liverpool Stayers' Hurdle (Grade 1) 3m ½f
Another small field expected with THISTLECRACK looking fairly unbeatable here based on all runs this season and a cosy win in the Stayers at Cheltenham. 

The forecast bet is with DIFFERENT GRAVEY but the jolly should prevail with a clear round of jumping.


16.20 The Betfred Handicap Steeple Chase (Listed) 3m 1f
A 15 runner Listed Chase now, no 4 places of course, so we'll pick two to win versus the field. These are Mick Channon's WARDEN HILL one who hasn't been seen out for a year but has been in my notebook since some excellent runs last year. 

And the yard also has KNOCK HOUSE so will have them both running for me and with Nina Carberry on board we have a good chance with a jockey who has good experience around this course.


17.15 The Crabbie's Grand National Steeple Chase (Grade 3) 4m 2½f

And now for the BIG ONE, 40 runners declared for a 4m 2f+ marathon over two circuits of this unique course and 30 fences to be jumped in all.

Last years' winner MANY CLOUDS takes his chance again this year looking to emulate Red Rum in winning consecutive renewals, certainly has a favourites chance for his connections and it would give Leighton Aspell a third win in a row too. 

Would love to see him win again, though top weight is a big ask so am going with both GALLANT OSCAR / KRUZHLININ the latter would be giving Richard Johnson his overdue success in this race. 

And if you want a really BIG punt on a massive price outsider (with a chance) then ROCKY CREEK at 100/1 from Paul Nicholls yard is the one, multiple winner over longer trips in excess of 3m+ and has raced over these fences a few times before. Has the same look as Comply or Die about him, worth a look at massive odds. Enjoy


18.10 The Pinsent Masons Handicap Hurdle (cond' and amat') (Class 2) 2m ½f

Very much an event after the lord mayors' show, a race for conditional and amateurs to end with and a race that could go to anyone ... 22 runners, not a race for me but will have a little win/place wager on SGT RECKLESS to complete the Mick Channon team here today.

Have a wonderful weekend.   

KEMPTON PARK RACES 2016 -- WEDNESDAY NIGHTS #14 6th APRIL

Last week we dropped another 7 points which has quickly taken us up to -24 points loss overall. Hopefully after an Easter break and with no other distractions we can get back on track. At least the places paid a little bit and the LAY bets are also still losing (or winning, depending on your view) things will turn in our favour soon I'm certain.

As always our focus will be on the handicap contests for each meeting but will occasionally include a feature listed or conditions event too. Keeping records of our endeavours to a 1pt level stake at SP, naturally we will personally be looking to get better odds but for the purpose of the results we record to SP.

We will keep up with our occasional lay opportunity of short priced favourites and as a result of yet another successful lay last week we have a success rate of 6 from 6. Results for this will be kept separately too and hopefully we can remain at 100% for a long while yet.

This week there's a 7 race card on offer, 5 of which are handicaps and the meeting gets under-way at 17:45 with a 7f maiden event and our opening handicap will be off at 18:15 again over 7f.

Here is a link to the evenings race card;
http://www.sportinglife.com/racing/meeting/kempton-park/06-04-2016/fast-cards

The going on the polytrack surface as usual is described as Standard and the current weather forecast is for a patchy day with some clouds and small chance of the odd shower however its a nice evening and the temperature is likely to remain at about 14C in the evening.

Here are our selections for this weeks handicaps;

18:15 -- 7f Handicap.
The second race on the card is our opening handicap event and there's some top yards represented here tonight. 

John Gosden runs DANGEROUS THOUGHT [N/R] and Andrew Balding has VISCOUNT BARFIELD [WON 4/1] both ran in the same maiden event here a few weeks ago and there's unlikely to be much between them again tonight.



19:15 -- 1m 3f Handicap (3yo).
Not a huge amount to go on as most only have a few bits of 2yo maiden form to speak of. 

The likes of Frivolous Prince and Zebedee's Son have had enough chances to win but always found at least one too good, I will be chancing the pair HARRY'S ENDEAVOUR [6th 10/1] / FRENCH LEGEND [7th 9/1] to show some improvement for the step into Handicap company.


19:45 -- 1m 3f Handicap.
Just the 6 here for this event, and features our next LAY bet with LORD GEORGE [LOST 2nd 6/4F] the paper fav, winner of a Wolves maiden over a mile last year, steps up in class and trip and while possibly plenty of improvement expected has to be taken on here first time out. 

Dual course winner JAZZY [5th 12/1] has already won a maiden and a handicap this term, so fitness and the ability to both see the trip out as well as acting on the surface is already proven and we'll back this colt along with laying the fav.



20:15 -- 6f Handicap.
Our sprint handicap can go to the consistent AW performer PYROCLASTIC [9th 6/1], who's a regular here and at Lingfield and while hasn't been in front that often is not usually very far away apart from one poor effort at Lingfield. 

May have only been 8th last time here but was only 2L behind the winner in a big bunch finish and should be a reasonable price along with veteran NOVERRE TO GO [8th 25/1] who despite being a 10yo now and closing in on a century of runs still retains a fair bit of ability at this level. Placed at Brighton and Nottingham last year, had a couple of runs this season and dropped a few pounds so has possibilities.


20:45 -- 1m Handicap.
The concluding handicap has 14 declared, BOOKMAKER [4th 8/1] has won 5 races including around here in February, only a few pounds higher and could still have another race in him, should be thereabouts. 

The 11yo PALACE MOON [8th 12/1] has won better races in the past but still retains some ability winning at Lingfield a month ago, is a decent price and could be worth another go tonight.


Staked --  9 points
Returns -- 6 points (*so far, 4/1 winner and N/r in the 18:15).

Loss c/f  -- -27 Points

Lays -- 7/7 (Still 100%, another beaten fav tonight).

Tonight's results are in and it's another lose sadly, only -3 but it's adding up to -27 points down for the season so far. On the positive side though the LAY was successfully and that's still going well getting the short favourites beaten.

PONTEFRACT HORSE RACING SYSTEM -- 2016 TURF SEASON -- PART ONE

PONTEFRACT SEASON 2016

[TUESDAY 5th APRIL]

Their 1st Meeting of the new flat season ...

And welcome one and all to the 2016 turf season at Pontefract, West Yorkshire. Our annual system gets under way this Tuesday and will be run throughout the flat season following horses drawn in stalls 1 and 2 with selections and forecast bets.

All results for this meeting are returned to a level stake at SP, and will also show any forecast results too in the daily results but these do not count for the profit / loss figures.

Our first meeting of the 2016 Season, takes place on Tuesday afternoon and is now an eight race card starting at 2pm with the first division of the mile handicap event.

The forecast going is currently reported as 'Good' the weather for Tuesday is for a warm and sunny day in the most part, could be a few drops of rain in the afternoon but for April is not too bad top temp is 14C during racetime.

Here are our selections for Tuesday afternoon, remember it's a very simple selection process of stalls 1 and 2 in every race;

2:00 1m 4y Handicap (Div 1).
ADVENTUREMAN   [8th 12/1]
MOPS ANGEL   [5th 10/1]


2:35 1m 2f 6y Maiden (3yo).
BROROCCO   [6th 11/10F]
FOUR MILE BEACH   [3rd 9/2]


3:10 6f Handicap (3yo).
FLYING PURSUIT   [N/R]
ANCIENT ASTRONAUT   [4th 9/2]


3:45 2m 1f 216yds Handicap (Stayers Championship Series).
MADAM LILIBET   [3rd 7/1]
ROC DE PRINCE   [N/R]


4:20 1m 2f 6yds Handicap.
LORD BEN STACK    [5th 5/2F]
MASTER OF FINANCE    [WON 11/4]


4:55 6f Fillies Maiden (3yo).
THANKYOU STARS    [N/R]
WOWCHA.    [WON 15/8F]


5:25 1m 4yds Handicap (Div 2).
ALL YOU    [N/R]
GONE WITH THE WIND.    [4th 6/1]


5:55 1m 2f 6yds Apprentice Handicap.
ASTRA HALL    [WON 3/1]
FARHAM    [N/R]


Staked -- 16 points
Returned -- 15.625 points (3 Winners, 5 Non Runners) 
Loss -- -0.375 points 
Results will appear here on Tuesday evening and our next meeting will be on Monday 18th April.

Have a good day.

PONTEFRACT RACES 2016 SEASON