KEMPTON PARK RACES 2016 -- WEDNESDAY NIGHTS #28 28th SEPTEMBER

September has still been good to us and even though we had a small loss last week the winners are not that far away. It's now our 28th meeting of the season and our losses for the season are at -22.84 points, which is now only an average loss of 0.85 points per meeting if you look at it over the entire year to date. All being equal we can find some more winners and now continue through into the turn of the year.

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 our first failure last time the we now have a success rate of 13 from 14. Results for this will be kept separately too and hopefully we can remain at +93% for the rest of the year.

This week there's another eight race card on offer, we have four handicap contests to consider. The action commencing at 17:40 with the 5f Handicap.

Here is a link to this evening's race card;
EVENING RACECARD

The going on the polytrack surface is described as Standard to Slow and the current weather forecast is for a cloudy evening with a max temperature of about 23C when the meetings begins and remain cloudy but dry during the evening.

Here are our selections for this evening's handicaps;

17:40 -- 5f Handicap.
Ten runners declared for the opening handicap and we will give another chance to EDITH WESTON [6th 10/1] who chased home Bilash at Nottingham and only failed by a head. Far and away her best effort to date and a repeat of that should see her win this. Very low grade so anything is possible.

20:10 -- 1m 3f Handicap Middle Distance Qualifier.
A strong field of 14 for the middle distance series event this week, the consistent HOLLYWOOD ROAD [6th 5/1] can go again having picked up a couple of 12f events recently.

CHARLIES MATE [3rd 5/2] chased home one of Jamie Osborne's here but remains in good form and another worth a second glance in the market. We will take the pair against the field.

20:40 -- 1m 3f Handicap.
Same trip, same number of runners just a much lower grade, LUGANO a non runner and the pair of last time out winners GRACESOME / OVERLORD can probably be ignored, if only because they're not the most consistent and winning again off their revised mark has been beyond them in the past. 

I think this should go to something that is just "right" on the day, TINGO IN THE TALE [10th 12/1] fits that criteria, has been running to his and wasn't far away here last time out.

21:10 -- 7f Handicap.

Another full complement of 14 for the finale, and we side with HARDY BLACK [WON 8/1] and SWISS CROSS [7th 12/1] against the field where the latter has the excellent Josephine Gordon to assist.

Staked -- 6 points
Returns -- 9 points

Results will appear here during Wednesday evening as we aim to make further inroads into our loss of -22.84 points for the year to date. And a nice result indeed in the finale, winning 3 points tonight so we now stand on -19.84 points for the season.

Lays -- 14/15. 

We have one tonight but not in our scheduled handicaps, the 19:10 novice contest only has 4 runners and it's JACKHAMMER who I would want to be laying even in this small select field. [LOST 3rd 3/1]

Our next Wednesday evening meeting at this course will be on 5th October, see you then.

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

PONTEFRACT SEASON 2016
Thursday 22nd September
14th Meeting of this season ...

This will be our 14th meeting of the season on Thursday afternoon for our system that focuses on Pontefract racecourse, West Yorkshire and we've another fixture to enjoy getting underway about 2.20pm.

Currently showing a loss of -50.16 points to level stakes at SP. Beginning to look like we have the season that breaks the rule and fails (rather spectacularly) to break into profit. There are still some meetings to go and it's possible to turn things around but haven't seen this level of deficit since I started.

As always we count ALL results for this meeting 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 highlight of the meeting is the Dalby Screw Driver Handicap which will be off about 4pm. 

In the early 19th century, SCREWDRIVER set the Pontefract pulses racing. He won at least 2 ‘Cup’ races! These consisted of four heats over 2 miles on the same day: the winner being the horse with the best aggregate score over the 8 miles! That makes him the earliest Pontefract course specialist on record!

The forecast going is currently reported as 'Good' the weather for Thursday afternoon is for a partly cloudy day with a fair chance of showers so take a brolly. The max temp is going to be about 18C which is about average for this time of year so enjoy a lovely day out while you can. 

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

2:20 6f Maiden (2yo).
(1) -- SUGAR BEACH  [5th 7/2].
(2) -- GOKENA  [9th 4/1].

2:55 1m 4yds Fillies Nursery (2yo).
(1) -- PARTY NIGHTS  [Non Runner].

(2) -- TOMORROWCOMES [WON 6/1].

3:30 6f Handicap (Div 1).
(1) -- COSMIC CHATTER  [2nd 7/1].

(2) -- REGAL DAN  [3rd 9/2].

4:00 1m 2f 6yds Handicap.
(1) -- EL VIP  [3rd 15/8F].

(2) -- MEMORIAL DAY [WON 5/1].

4:35 1m 4yds Maiden.
(1) -- AVANTGARDIST  [5th 16/1].

(2) -- JUMBO VEE  [7th 33/1].

5:10 5f Handicap.
(1) -- ROSE ECLAIR [5th 3/1].
(2) -- VAN GERWEN [WON 11/4F].

5:40 6f Handicap (Div 2).
(1) -- MAGIC CITY  [Non Runner].
(2) -- HARWOODS VOLANTE  [2nd 11/2].

6:10 1m 4f 8yds Apprentice Handicap.

(1) -- CARTWRIGHT [WON 11/10].
(2) -- ROYAL PECULIAR [6th 14/1].

Staked -- 16 points.

Returns -- 20.85 Point (4 winners and 2 N/Rs). 

Results in and with 4 winners we made a small profit on the day (+4.85 points to SP). 

Balance C/F to meeting #15 now -45.31 points lost. 

Our next meeting here will take place a few weeks time on Monday 3rd October.

There are now just two more meetings to go this season. 

KEMPTON PARK RACES 2016 -- WEDNESDAY NIGHTS #27 21st SEPTEMBER

Nice start to September for this feature with a good winning evening to help reduce our season's losses. It's now our 27th meeting of the season and after that excellent success last time we have reduced our losses down to -17.59 points, which is now only an average loss of 0.67 points per meeting if you look at it over the entire year to date. All being equal we can continue with this winning theme now and continue through into the turn of the year.

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 our first failure last time the we now have a success rate of 13 from 14. Results for this will be kept separately too and hopefully we can remain at +93% for the rest of the year.

This week there's another eight race card on offer, we have three handicaps and a nursery contest to consider. The action commencing at 17:40 with the 7f Nursery for 2yo's.

Here is a link to this evening's race card;
EVENING RACECARD

The going on the polytrack surface is described as Standard to Slow and the current weather forecast is for a cloudy evening with a max temperature of about 21C when the meetings begins and remain cloudy but dry during the evening.

Here are our selections for this evening's handicaps;

17:40 -- 7f Nursery (2yo).
Maximum field of 14 for the opening nursery contest, wide open event as you'd expect this time of year and one that went in the notebook not too long ago was WENTWELL YESTERDAY [2nd 5/2] who was doing their best work at the end when runner up here.

PRINCESS WAY [12th 14/1] should appreciate the return to this grade having been outclassed over in Ireland last time although ran ok to finish midfield (16 of 30).

20:10 -- 1m 3f Handicap (3yo).
Decent race for Wednesday night, the fly in the ointment is Sir Mark Prescott's maiden winner FLYMETOTHESTARS [6th 3/1] who being sired by See The Stars can only improve for this sort of trip, and should be ok on the surface. 

ROYAL RESERVE [5th 8/1] is the outsider of the eight and if all stand their ground could be the EW interest getting all the weight concessions here.

20:40 -- 1m 4f Handicap.
Just the seven here for this event, Jamie Osborne has CHARLIE BEAR [WON 7/4] won here a couple of weeks ago and repeat of that should see him go close again. 

NONIOS was 7L+ back in that race and looks too short a price here to turn that around so preference is for top weight DOLPHIN VILLAGE [3rd 10/1] instead who takes a small drop in grade and is proven over this trip.

21:10 -- 6f Handicap.
A dozen declared for the finale where an old friend lines up MISU PETE [5th 12/1] who has won for us around here before and together with KEIBA [4th 7/2] who's been showing improvement with each run here they are our pair against the field tonight.

Staked -- 8 points
Returns -- 2.75 points

Loss of -5.25 tonight which was disappointing, so our Loss for the year now stands at; -22.84 Points to level stakes at SP.

Lays -- 13/14.

Our next Wednesday evening meeting at this course will be on 28th September, see you then.

VITALITY DAY @ THE KOORANA CENTRE -- SATURDAY 17th SEPTEMBER

In addition to the many events taking place locally in Haywards Heath (see other blog for the Haywards Heath 175 celebrations) There is an open day at the Koorana Centre in Ardingly on the Saturday, so perhaps escape for a while, indulge in some deliciously relaxing therapies at our Vitality Day on 17th September 9am-5pm, free entry, low cost tasters.

Address: The Koorana Centre

Street Lane, Ardingly, West Sussex, RH17 6UB

Website -- http://www.thekooranacentre.com/

Please book your taster treatments now by contacting the relevant therapist, they cost £15 for a 20 minute session:

Aromatherapy/Reflexology with Wendy
Whether you need to relax and unwind, or are in need of revitalising, Wendy will be offering Aromatherapy and/or Reflexology taster treatments and Tracy hand and foot reflexology. Lie back and enjoy being restored in body, mind and spirit!

Wendy also runs our Coffee with a Purpose Workshops here at the centre and Tracy leads the M.E. Support Group. please email wendy@wendymccallum.co.uk

Jin Shin Jyutsu®/Reflexology with Elizabeth
Jin Shin Jyutsu learn about these gentle ancient healing arts with a taster session from Elizabeth. Find out about her new practice here at the centre.please email elizabethmansfield22@gmail.com

Ayurvedic Head Massage with Anita
A delightful way to relax and let go of the stresses of the week, experience a taster session in Ayurvedic Massage and learn more about Anita's Dru Yoga classes -- please email anitasebre@yahoo.co.uk

Angel Readings with Anna -- Are you looking for guidance in relation to relationships, your home or your work? Book a reading to find out more. Anna also runs courses and circles from the centre please email info@anna-taylor.co.uk

Colour Personality Readings with Theresa -- the four colours we are born with define our personality: the way we behave, our gifts and our shortcomings. We can work on ourselves to represent the best version of each colour’s qualities thus aiming to reach our full potential. And, if you ever wondered why we are here for, our third colour is our karmic colour; it shows our ‘raison d’être’.

Book a personalised colour reading to find out more. please email centre to book info@thekooranacentre.com -- Theresa will be leading our Creativity Workshop the very next day.

There will be lots of products available to buy including Neals Yard, Tropic Skincare, crystals, colour sprays and a variety of gifts and cards plus the healthy tea, coffee and supplements from Organo.

Come to our Friends' welcome desk to pick up your Friends pack of offers or enquire about membership.

Any questions please call 01444 810295 or find out more by visiting their facebook page;
https://www.facebook.com/TheKooranaCentre/

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

PONTEFRACT SEASON 2016
Thursday 15th September
13th Meeting of this season ...

This will be our 13th meeting of the season on Thursday afternoon for our system that focuses on Pontefract racecourse, West Yorkshire and we've another fixture to enjoy getting underway about 2.20pm.

Currently showing a loss of -45.10 points to level stakes at SP. Beginning to look like we have the season that breaks the rule and fails (rather spectacularly) to break into profit. There are still some meetings to go and it's possible to turn things around but haven't seen this level of deficit since I started.

As always we count ALL results for this meeting 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.

There are now 8 races on today's card with the division of the 1m handicap, the days highlight being the £30,000+ EBF Fillies’ Handicap over 6f.

The forecast going is currently reported as 'Good' the weather for Thursday afternoon is for a partly cloudy day in the most part. The max temp is going to be about 27C which is higher than average for this time of year so enjoy a lovely day out while you can. 

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

2:20 5f Maiden (2yo).
(1) -- SHENG CHI DRAGON  [11th 50/1].
(2) -- PEACE DREAMER  [5th 12/1].


2:55 1m 4yds Handicap (Div 1).
(1) -- LAWYER  [WON 7/2].
(2) -- FREIGHT TRAIN  [3rd 11/4].


3:25 1m 2f 6yds Handicap.
(1) -- OPTIMA PETAMUS  [9th 10/1].
(2) -- TOGA TIGER  [4th 10/1].


4:00 6f Fillies Handicap.
(1) -- KASSIA.  [WON 3/1]
(2) -- STELLARTA.  [2nd 7/1]
Forecast - £23.85

4:35 2m 1f 22yds Handicap.
(1) -- IVANHOE.  [4th 7/2]
(2) -- CHEBSEY BEAU.  [3rd 4/1]


5:10 1m 2f 6yds Maiden.
(1) -- QUEEN OF THE STARS.  [WON 4/9F]
(2) -- JONOFARK.  [4th 40/1]


5:40 1m 4yds Handicap (Div 2).
(1) -- CAPTAIN REVELATION.  [7th 8/1]
(2) -- MUSAAID.  [5th 6/1]


6:10 6f Apprentice Handicap.
(1) -- BAY MIRAGE.  [Non Runner]
(2) -- CAPTAIN SCOOBY.  [5th 16/1]


Staked -- 16 points.
Returns -- 10.94 points (3 small winners, 1 non runner an overall loss today of -5.06 points)

Results are in for Thursday afternoon, alas despite a few winners we still score a loss for today even so we hope you enjoying a wonderful meeting in the sunshine.

Balance C/F from meeting #13 -50.16 points lost. 

Our next meeting here will take place in a weeks time on Thursday 22nd September.

There are now just three more meetings to go this season. 

SATURDAY 10th SEPTEMBER -- LAST NIGHT OF THE PROMS 2016 (INCLUDING PROMS IN THE PARK)

This weekend we see the conclusion of the 122nd season of the BBC Proms which featured more than 90 concerts over eight weeks, including four Last Night celebrations around the UK. Hyde Park will be the popular location for those of us who haven't got tickets to be in the Royal Albert Hall on Saturday night.

PROM 75: THE LAST NIGHT OF THE PROMS 2016
Saturday 10 September 2016
Doors: 5:45pm
Starts: 7:15pm
Ends (approximately): 10:30pm




Peruvian tenor Juan Diego Flórez is the star soloist in a Last Night that also showcases a hand-picked selection of young singers in Vaughan Williams’ Serenade to Music.



PROMS IN THE PARK 
Join in the Last Night of the Proms celebrations in Hyde Park.

Twenty years since the first BBC Proms in the Park in 1996, stars from the pop and classical worlds including original Jersey Boys, Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons, ABC performing songs from their classic album Lexicon of Love, singer Rick Astley, girl band All Saints, Australian actor and comedian Tim Minchin and flautist Sir James Galway will join the Royal Choral Society, BBC Concert Orchestra and conductor Richard Balcombe at this year’s BBC Proms in the Park in Hyde Park – the annual Last Night of the Proms spectacular broadcast live on BBC Radio 2.

BBC Proms in the Park is Britain’s largest outdoor classical music event and a rousing finale to two months of the finest music-making at the BBC Proms. Radio 2 presenter Michael Ball will be presenting for the first time this year. He also performed at the very first Proms in the Park in 1996, and will be singing with Alfie Boe at this year’s event.

Special guest Juan Diego Flórez also joins the celebrations, as he hot-foots it across the road to perform at the Royal Albert Hall. We also celebrate the centenary year of author Roald Dahl with a performance of Matilda The Musical from the Royal Shakespeare Company’s multi-award-winning West End production. 

Artists to include:
Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons
ABC 
All Saints 
Rick Astley 
The Feeling 
Juan Diego Flórez tenor
Sir James Galway 
Tim Minchin and the cast of Matilda The Musical

Richard Balcombe conductor
BBC Concert Orchestra

KEMPTON PARK RACES 2016 -- WEDNESDAY NIGHTS #26 7th SEPTEMBER

Onward into September for another night at Kempton Park on it's floodlit all weather surface. It's our 26th meeting of the season tonight and after a small success last week we have reduced our losses down to -36.59 points, which is now only an average loss of 1.4 points per meeting if you look at it over the entire year to date. Hopefully we can still pick up the winning thread again and continue through into the turn of the year.

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 remaining 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 time out we have a success rate of 13 from 13. Results for this will be kept separately too and hopefully we can remain at 100% for the rest of the year.

This week there's an eight race card on offer, we have four handicaps and two nursery contests to consider. The action commencing at 17:25 with a 6f Claiming race.

Here is a link to the evening's race card
http://www.sportinglife.com/racing/meeting/kempton-park/07-09-2016/fast-cards










The going on the polytrack surface is described as Standard to Slow and the current weather forecast is for a cloudy but warm evening, this is England after all. The temperature is likely to rise to the highs of about 27C when the meetings begins and remain hot and quite muggy during the evening, make sure you have plenty to drink with you at all times.

Here are our selections for this evening's handicaps;

17:55 -- 7f Nursery (2yo).
Our opening contest for twelve two year olds over 7f, top weight LORD CLENAGHCASTLE looks to have a tall order having only won a maiden at Brighton over 5f by a nose. This extra distance along with the change of conditions makes him opposable [WON 3/1 I was wrong]. 

We will be on PRINCESS WAY [Non Runner] who having won last time at Salisbury over the trip on good to firm ground should not be too inconvenienced here.

18:25 -- 7f Handicap (Div 1).
This event has been divided into two divisions the opening one has 10 runners. Top weight is the 12yo REGAL PARADE who might still have enough to place here at this low level but for win purposes we look elsewhere. 

LETS TWIST ran well up at Newcastle in a similar race finishing second there, a repeat of which should see him go close again here and priced up at 12/1 which is attractive for win/place opportunities [WON 6/1].

18:55 -- 7f Handicap (Div 2).
Division two of the handicap over 7f and again another 10 runners to sift through. RIGHTWAY [N/R] comes into this on the back of a Sandown victory but this surface and the drop in trip with this opposition could make things more difficult and is opposed. 

Will be taking a chance with SIR COMPTON [4th 8/1] and GULLAND ROCK [WON 5/1] against the field as both are showing at around 10/1, though it's hardly a race to put too much faith in.

19:55 -- 1m Nursery (2yo).
Our second nursery of the evening now and eight are declared for this contest, top weight and likely favourite HAULANI [Non Runner] comes here seeking a hat trick of victories the last two having been at Lingfield and Salisbury. 

At a more generous looking price is WAHASH [2nd 5/1], regularly placed at better tracks than this could be one for Dettori for their high flying owners. 

20:25 -- 1m Handicap.
Yet another uninspiring low grade handicap with 14 runners, at least JERSEY BULL has won a contest here but I'm going with the pair of PALADIN [13th 16/1] and IN KENS MEMORY [WON 10/1] against the field at potentially decent prices.

20:55 -- 1m 4f Handicap (3yo).
A field of eight 3yo's for us in the finale, where RUBENSIAN is a short odds favourite having won over this trip at Wolves by 6L last time out. [LAY BET which won at 4/6F booo]

Is too short for us, in fact at Evens or less it'll be a LAY bet this week while we side with BRAVE ARCHIBALD [Non Runner] who won over in Deauville and only has to concede 2lb to the fav here.


Staked -- 8 points
Returns -- 27 points (3 winners and several non runners tonight, but a great nights work)

Winning night, made a PROFIT of +19 points which has made a nice dent into our overall figure. 

Still seeing a loss for the season but we now c/f to our next evening meeting in two weeks time a value of; -17.59 Points to level stakes at SP.

Lays -- 13/14 (Eventually one was bound to win, albeit a 4/6F in the finale, even so a near 93% success rate and massively ahead for the year with these too).

The next Wednesday evening meeting at this course will be on 21st September so we've a couple of weeks to recover.

2016/2017 LEAGUE ONE SEASON -- AFC WIMBLEDON V CHESTERFIELD KO 3PM

YEAH BABY PLAY OFF WINNERS, NOW FOR LEAGUE ONE

This weekend bottom of the league AFC Wimbledon face 10th place Chesterfield in League One. Following last weekends 1-1 draw with 2nd bottom Rochdale which saw the Dons concede an injury time equaliser we are still seeking our first victory of the season in the league. 

I am sure the squad will have been boosted by the excellent 3-0 win on Tuesday night against Swansea U23 side in the revamped Football League Trophy, and it's time we got our first 3 points at home too. With no new players coming in before the transfer window closed midweek (the management team having already done their business early and are happy with the squad for now) the Dons know what they have in their ranks and must start to play to their strengths to at least climb out of the bottom four.   

We shall update on Saturday before kick off with the confirmed starting XI for both sides and any further news as it comes available. Latest news on Friday evening was the surprise signing on loan of Chris Robertson from Ross County, a towering centre back as described by Neal Ardley, however is ineligible for the Chesterfield match. 

Line Ups (confirmed);

  AFC WIMBLEDON
  Odds -- 7/5 (William Hill) 


 Clarke (Gk),  Fuller (c),  Meades,  Robinson,  Bulman,  Barcham,  Charles,  Francomb,  Reeves,  Taylor,  Barnett  


Subs – Shea (Gk),  Nightingale,  Whelpdale,  Elliott,  Parrett,  Kelly,  Poleon

CHESTERFIELD  
Odds -- 11/5 (BET 365) 

Fulton (Gk),  McGinn,  Hird,  Evatt,  Donohue,  Liddle (c),  Nolan,  Ariyibi,  O'Shea,  Mitchell,  Evans 



Subs –  Gardner,  Anderson,  Wilkinson,  Dennis,  Simons,  Maguire,  Parkin (Gk)


H/T Score – 0 - 1

First Half Comment;
Chesterfield got us underway this afternoon and Ched Evans getting plenty of stick from the home fans already, not too many clear chances in the first 30 mins or so but almost inevitably Chesterfield score a scrappy goal from one of the many corners won in the opening half. 

Eventually given to Darius Charles as an own goal. So far not many positives we can take from this half other than we are only the one goal down. Must improve in second half...


F/T Score – 2 - 1

Match Summary;
The Dons certainly took their time to get into the game but early in the second half we finally managed a decent effort on goal to equalise after a long clearance which resulted in another corner from George Francomb and was headed home by Paul Robinson. (I say headed, the replay suggests it just hit him at the back post but we'll say he meant it)

Should we be worried that Lyle Taylor doesn't seem to be scoring or not, well he was subbed on 70 mins and will have to get his head down in training and get that scoring touch back. 

And then just as you think it's heading for a 1-1 draw ... this happens ... 91 mins, Goal! Dominic Poleon (AFC Wimbledon) right footed shot from outside the box to the bottom right corner, assisted by Dean Parrett. Great effort, off the bottom of the table and well deserved. 


Man of the Match – Jon Meades (sponsored by me).

Referee -- Our Referee for the this weekends game is Kevin Johnson, he's been involved as high as Championship level football last season including a run in with Mr Neil Warnock, but then again which referee hasn't !!

Attendance – 4,425.

Next match:
Saturday 10th September vs Sheffield United (HOME)
League One -- KO 3pm