BANK HOLIDAY MONDAY RACING -- 28th MAY 2018

Been a busy time for horse-racing for me of late, last week had a great evening out to Sandown Park for my brothers birthday and now we have a host of Bank Holiday fixtures to enjoy. Could go out to Windsor, although it's not one of my favourite tracks it is local and sure to be extremely busy. Maybe I am just getting old but I do recall that Bank Holidays used to be a feast of racing, about ten meetings and now we've only six in UK (plus an evening meeting in Ireland) which is not much different from a regular Saturday? Maybe it is just my imagination or memory playing tricks on me now that I am older ... 

CARTMEL BANK HOLIDAY FIXTURES ARE BUSY

National Hunt fixtures;
Cartmel (above) -- traditional Bank Holiday meeting with funfair and hopefully lovely sunshine. Their seven race card begins at 14:10. The feature race on Monday is the Class 2 Oakmere Homes Handicap Hurdle at 15:20 and a field of eight declared where I fancy the chances of OLD HARRY ROCKS and at 14/1 is a good win/place bet today.

Huntingdon -- The other NH meeting this afternoon begins at 13:30 and has been billed as their "family fun day". Another 7 race card on offer and the children will be entertained by the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Their most valuable race is the 2m Handicap Chase off at 15:10 and might well go to WALDEN PRINCE a course and distance winner and in receipt of weight from the field.

Flat fixtures;
CHELMSFORD CITY (All weather) -- The Essex course hosts their Family Fun Sports Day in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support. First race is at 13.55 and there's a load of sporting competitions to get involved with for a great cause. Their best race is only a class 4 handicap (15:50) but can go to Mark Johnston ADDICTED TO YOU who went down by a head in a better class race than this last time and Franny Norton is the right man to have on your side today.

REDCAR -- Probably the feature race meeting of the day with the renewal of the Zetland Gold Cup worth more than £31,000 to the winner. Racing here gets underway at 12.45 here the Zetland is off at 16:10 and last years winner BRIARDALE lines up once more and races off 5lb higher today but hasn't had the benefit of a race this season. 
Was going to pick the Queen's horse SENIORITY but that appears as a Non Runner now sadly so will give my tip as ABAREEQ a winner off higher marks last year, and goes well under Joe Fanning for trainer Mark Johnston.

LEICESTER -- Their own Family Fun Day and good value at £10 entrance plus accompanied children are admitted free. Racing gets underway at 13:45 with a selling race that can go to Hayley Turner riding RACEHORSE. Their feature race is the Victoria Park Handicap a race for three year olds off at 14:55 which can go to the progressing filly ELNADIM STAR who is seeking a four timer.

WINDSOR -- Having cleared up from the Royal Wedding last weekend they host their family fun day too with Free rides galore and a 7 race card to enjoy (you won't see much though due to the track configuration) first race is 13.55.

Their big race goes off at 16:50 and is the sprint handicap over five furlongs for three year olds. A race where MIDSUMMER KNIGHT can snatch this from the front, will be hard to peg back if allowed an easy lead.

Ireland;
BALLINROBE -- The only Irish meeting today is an evening NH fixture beginning at 17.30. They have a couple of nice races but the biggest prize on offer tonight is in the 18:30 Mares Handicap Hurdle which can go the way of AWAYINTHEWEST and Barry Geraghty takes the ride.

Whatever you doing this Bank Holiday I hope it's sunshine and fun for you. Enjoy. 

PONTEFRACT HORSE RACING SYSTEM -- 2018 TURF SEASON -- PART FOUR

PONTEFRACT SEASON 2018.

Friday 25th May.
Welcome to this our 4th meeting of the year and their 1st evening meeting. 

We welcome our 4th meeting here this season and the 2018 Season continues with the first evening meeting which is also the return of the popular 80s Night. The action on the racecourse gets underway at 6.30pm and following on from the success of Bananarama at last years 80s Night, the racecourse team are thrilled to announce that Belinda Carlisle will be joining us for 80s Night in 2018!

A mixed start to the season means we are currently down by less than a single point to starting prices (-0.67 to be exact) so we can hopefully kick on from there tonight.

We will continue throughout this season to record ALL results for these fixtures which are returned to a level stake at Starting Price (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 now currently reported as 'Good to firm' the weather for Friday evening is for a partly cloudy day with some showers due and a forecast maximum temperature around the 17C mark, Could be better I guess now we are into May, it'll surely improve throughout the next few months into our summer (hopefully). 

Here are our selections for the 6 races on Friday evening, remember it's a very simple selection process of stalls 1 and 2 in every race;

6:30 1m 6yds Handicap.
(1) -- TOTALLY MAGIC  [4th 20/1].
(2) -- LAQAB  [5th 9/2].

7:00 1m 4f 5yds Handicap.
(1) -- CROQUEMBOUCHE  [6th 6/1].
(2) -- ALFRED RICHARDSON  [5th 4/1].

7:30 6f Conditions Stakes.
(1) -- NINETYTHREETWENTY  [WON 11/4].
(2) -- VICTORY COMMAND  [2nd 100/30].

8:00 5f 3yds Handicap.
(1) -- TAVENER  [11th 8/1].
(2) -- FOXTROT KNIGHT  [2nd 4/1].

8:30 1m 2f 5yds Fillies Handicap.
(1) -- INFLEXIBALL  [4th 11/2].
(2) -- PRINCESS OPHELIA  [9th 14/1].

9:00 6f Novice Stakes (3yo).
(1) -- BEGGING BOWL  [3rd 9/1].
(2) -- ANGELS  [WON 1/3F].

Staked -- 12 points.

Returns -- 5.08 Points

Last season might have been a bit of a blowout compared to recent years, and the last meeting resulted in our running total standing at -0.67 point loss (to SP). Results from today will be updated later on at the end of the meeting tonight sadly two winners was not enough, so we lose 6.92 points tonight which means we are down -7.59 points going onto the next meeting. 

Our next meeting will be another evening race and that's on Monday 11th June. Keep following us throughout the season. 

SANDOWN PARK BRIGADIER GERARD MEETING -- THURSDAY 24th MAY (Evening)

The best evening race card of the season takes place at Sandown Park on Thursday 24th May. This meeting features two Group Three races on it's six race card, the HENRY II Stakes run over 2m, we hoped we might have seen the return of the popular stayer BIG ORANGE here prior to another Ascot Gold Cup bid but has not been declared sadly and THE BRIGADIER GERARD Stakes which is run over a distance of 1m 2f. When you throw in a couple of decent listed contests too it is no surprise that ITV have chosen to send cameras and broadcast this evening fixture live. 

This is a meeting that I attend each year as it falls close to my older brother's birthday, so we will make a night of it with some of his boys, and finding a few winners would be nice. 

A link to the evening race card can be found here;
 -- http://www.sportinglife.com/racing/meeting/sandown-park/24-05-2018/fast-cards




Praying that the weather is good, and the beers are better than those recently served up at Ascot. So here are the evenings races and my selections; 

6:00pm -- MATCHBOOK EXCHANGE HANDICAP STAKES 
1 mile 2 furlongs.


Tonight LIVE on ITV gets underway with this competitive handicap over 1m 2f. Fifteen go to post, and STORMINGIN [2nd 9/2] will be very popular with Ryan Moore booked which might jut tip the balance in his favour after some recent place efforts. 

Not much to shout about amongst the rest, although WHAT A WELCOME [WON 15/8F] has won his last three overall and his race at Newbury looks strong if he's there come the final furlong up the hill.

6:35pm -- THE NATIONAL STAKES (Listed Race) 
(2yo only) 5 furlongs 10y. 

The first of the quality races, a 5f sprint down the middle of the course, where WEDDING DATE [5th 9/2] is appealing getting a few pounds for her fillies allowance and won well at Chester so in good order. The Mick Channon yard have started the season well and his KINKS [6th 4/1] looks a good one here too having won two from three although you would be wise not to rule anything out in this contest, but these two against the field for me tonight.

7:05pm THE HERON STAKES (Listed Race) 
1 miles.


A field of nine but it's all focused around WITHOUT PAROLE [WON 4/6F] for the Gosden / Dettori team. Looks sure to improve as a 3yo and could have most to fear from the Sir Micheal Stoute representative REGAL REALITY [6th 14/1] another to have won at Yarmouth and Ryan Moore could have a good night here with Poet's Word in the big race later.

7:35pm THE HENRY II STAKES (Group 3) 
2 miles 50yds.

TIME TO STUDY failed to impress when I selected him for the Ascot Sagaro stakes and comes here on a rescue mission as far as the big staying races are concerned. WEEKENDER [3rd 9/4F] looks a strong fancy for Gosden / Dettori team once more and could be doubling up here. 

An interesting place option is SHEIKHZAYEDROAD [8th 6/1] who has has some good place results in Dubai and has been campaigned in top company last year including a 6th in the Ascot Gold Cup over further and 2m seems about his limit.

8:10pm THE BRIGADIER GERARD STAKES (Group 3) 
1 mile 2 furlongs.

Only a small field of five for the feature event tonight, POET'S WORD [WON 4/6F] might have scared some off having been runner up at the Dubai World Cup meeting (Sheema Classic) and if it's not run at a crawl this should take all the beating. 

FABRICATE [4th 3/1] will be popular as he runs in the colours of Her Majesty The Queen and appeals as the strongest alternative to the odds on fav.  

8:40pm Whitsun Cup Handicap
1 mile.

Our finale is a field of 14 but it's interesting to see if last months easy Ascot winner MOUNTAIN ANGEL [3rd 4/1] is as easy to back as he was then. Won by 4L there, albeit on soft going  and it was also an apprentice race he will find this more difficult and the ground totally different here too but respected in his current good order.

HAKEEM [9th 4/1] hasn't done much wrong so far, and is well bred, CLIFFS OF CAPRI [10th 33/1] has been campaigned on the all weather till now and if he takes to grass will be big price at 12/1 with his experience. 


Have a fun evening and Happy Birthday brother Graham. 

2018 KEMPTON PARK RACES -- WEDNESDAY NIGHTS #9 23rd MAY

It's approaching June already and we've seen the opening classics run, with the Derby and Oaks to follow soon at Epsom.  However since this blog primarily follows the progress of handicap races on the Wednesday night races here at Kempton Park racecourse in Surrey. We've started the year a bit behind now although it's a bit up and down this is only meeting nine. There are usually 4-5 handicap races covered and some Lay bets too with separate totals recorded to SP throughout the year. 

We are ready for week number nine, though we began the year with a loss we clawed most of that back in week four and then had a wipe-out in the last couple of meetings so sadly find ourselves down -32 points to SP, early days and there is a long way to go but if we had recorded results to the prices taken we'd be in a much better situation, alas we record to starting prices. 

As we continue to focus on the handicap contests for each Wednesday evening meeting we will also occasionally include a feature listed or conditions event too if one is available. Keeping records of our endeavours to a 1 point level stake at SP, naturally we will personally be looking to get better odds than this but for the purpose of these results here we simply record SP returns only.

We will keep up with our occasional lay opportunities of short priced favourites too which wasn't too bad last year with 18 from 28 (64%) short price lays throughout the season. Naturally we will keep these results separately from the handicap figures, off to a disappointing start this season though and as the favs are winning we are currently 5/10 going forwards with these for 2018. 

This Wednesday is meeting number nine for the 2018 season and we are expecting a seven race card tonight with five handicaps to enjoy the action will commence at 17:55 with an apprentice handicap over a mile.

Here's a link to this Wednesday's race card; RACECARD

The going on the polytrack surface is described as 'standard to slow' and the current weather forecast for this Wednesday is for a warmer day so have a good night without the threat of rain for a change a top temperature will be about 22C by the time the meeting gets underway.

Here are our selections for tonight;

17:55 -- 1m Apprentice Handicap (3yo).
Our opening event tonight is for apprentice jockeys and three year old horses so plenty of inexperience on show amongst the fourteen declared.

Top weight Angelina D'Or has a recent win at Lingfield but that was with an experienced jockey on board (Dane O'Neill) and is a different proposition here at 2/1F so will oppose. 

TRUMPS UP [5th 10/1] won his first two outings as a 2yo and has had a run this year too, that was in a class 3 event at Newmarket so this will be a lot easier and is fancied to go close.

19:25 -- 1m 2f 219y Handicap.
a 13 runner affair for us now, not a bad grade either and we will focus on recent winning form of SHANGHAI SILVER [5th 20/1] who is chasing a hat trick of wins on different all weather tracks and only a 5lb rise for the latest one. 

DASH OF SPICE [2nd 11/8F] was runner up around Epsom in a better quality race and a repeat of that should see him go close here tonight, prior to that run he'd won a maiden at Lingfield so it's interesting to note that he was aimed fairly highly on handicap debut.

19:55 -- 1m Handicap.
Slight drop in grade now but just as competitive, the fourteen line up are headed by Paul Cole's SPIRIT OF BELLE [12th 10/1] a recent winner here in April and still capable of more tonight. 

Another course and distance winner is THE WARRIOR [2nd 10/1] who is consistent, back at his best trip and a back to the same winning mark as last year so certainly with a chance too.

20:25 -- 1m Handicap.
Down to a class 6 handicap over a mile, plenty of previous winners, many are consistent at this level but don't win too often, two that appeal are STRINGYBARK CREEK [5th 4/1] and BOOKMAKER [12th 18/1] against the field but not a race to be too over confident about. 

20:55 -- 7f Handicap.
Our finale over seven furlongs, and we are going to side with a couple of selections that were runner up last time out. The first is DUKE OF NORTH [11th 33/1] who is 1lb higher than when second at Brighton last time, has been sliding down the weights a little so clearly given a chance, and has been campaigned at a higher grade so ought to appreciate this opportunity. 

Our other selection is VIOLA PARK [WON 11/1] who again is only 1lb higher than recent second placing at Wolves. Beaten less than a length and regularly placed over the trip is given a chance too.

Staked -- 9 points.
Returns -- 12 points.

Results will appear here later on Wednesday night. We seek to recover from our current deficit of -32 points. Hurrah a winner in the last and we make a small profit of +3 points tonight to SP. Still have a -29 balance to take forward.

LAYS -- 5/10 if we have one or two Lays tonight they will be updated here also. 

Tonight's Lays;
None.

Our tenth meeting here at Kempton Park will be next month on Wednesday 6th June so see you then.

FA CUP FINAL WEEKEND. SATURDAY 19th MAY 2018

CHELSEA - 1 (Hazard 22 pen) 
MANCHESTER UNITED - 0

Kick Off 5:15pm Live on BBC1

The greatest domestic cup competition in the world gets second billing today due to the Royal Wedding but that should be all over by 2pm after which the BBC begins their build up to the big show. It's not quite the full treatment from the BBC that it used to be in the past, no episodes of Cup Final Mastermind, or the like this weekend and of course the kick off is 5:15pm and not 3pm where it traditionally should be but never mind. So good luck to Prince Harry and Megan, but this is the real big match up of the day! 

This season is the 136th FA Cup Final and we are being treated to a real battle of two old foes, Chelsea who by their standards are having a bad season ending up in 5th place in the league having won it last year plus this is probably Antonio Conté final match in charge of the club. While Manchester United secured 2nd place in the league, a long way behind their noisy neighbours City, but José Mourinho is a serial trophy winner and will relish adding to his CV at the expense of one of his previous clubs. 

If you can remember when there was life before the Premier League and the FA Cup was THE final game of the season it used to go on all day, Mastermind, Question of Sport, watching the team coaches head to the old stadium, the twin towers and hoards of fans walking down 'Wembley Way' from the station. But you will some special programs on BBC2 dedicated to John Motson who retired this year. 


2pm
We start our FA CUP Saturday with FOOTBALL FOCUS, Dan Walker presents the weekly magazine programme live from Wembley Stadium ahead of the FA Cup final between Chelsea and Manchester United. 

3pm
A brief twenty minute interview with José Mourinho about life at Manchester United. How they only give twenty mins for this I don't know as I'm sure he'd talk for hours. Note that there is no similar event in the schedule afforded to Chelsea boss Conté. 

3.20 
The Road to Wembley Another half hour traditional part of the day as we look back at the path each side took from the 3rd round all the way to the final. A break for the national and local news takes us up to 4.10pm where Gary Lineker takes over and continues with the build up the teams come out about 5pm and we will be treated to the traditional Cup Final anthem 'Abide With Me' kick-off is scheduled for 5.15pm . 

It's a nice tribute to the late Ray Wilkins that the FA have invited his widow Jackie to attend this year's Cup Final and present the trophy to the winners. Since this year's FA Cup final is between two of his former clubs Chelsea and Manchester United I hope they put on a decent show today for him.

The line ups are confirmed as follows, Valencia gets the nod as captain following Carrick's retirement. Rashford starts in place of Lukaku and there's no place for Willian in the Chelsea XI which is a surprise. 

MANCHESTER UNITED Team News;

De Gea (Gk)

Smalling    A Valencia (cpt) _    Jones _

Young    Pogba    Herrera    Matic  


Lingard    Rashford    Sanchez

SUBS -- Romero,  Bailly,  Mata,  Lukaku,  Martial,  Darmian,  McTominay

CHELSEA Team News;

Courtois (Gk) _

Azpilicueta    Rüdiger    Cahill (cpt) 

Moses    Kanté    Fabregas    Bakayoko

Alonso    Giroud    E Hazard

SUBS -- Caballero,  Zappacosta,  Willian,  Pedro,  Chalobah,  Barkley,  Morata

Our match referee for today's final is Michael Oliver.
My best bets are Eden Hazard to score any time (2/1) and a penalty to be awarded in the match (7/2). Got them both in the first half thank you very much. 

I suppose you will get good odds on Manchester United winning this too but I fear this could be a dull final, and a draw with extra time to really push us. So will also have a bet on it going to penalties which is 10/1 each side !  

Latest Odds (from William Hill)

MANCHESTER UNITED - 13/8   /  Draw - 2/1  /   CHELSEA - 9/5

Wasn't wrong it was fairly dull affair but Chelsea win 1-0 for their 8th FA Cup success.

AFC WIMBLEDON END OF SEASON 2017 - 2018

This weekend is the final game of the season in League One and it's a home fixture for AFC Wimbledon who will host relegated Bury to bring the curtain down on another successful season in our short history. During our first season in League One the Dons spent most of it comfortably in mid table and a nice home win over the smelly Franchise experiment was a highlight. However our second season proved to be a little more difficult, while generally a battle to get out of the bottom four, it has proved to be another great success for the following reasons;

1) We stayed up, ensuring another season in League One.
2) The Franchise experiment continues to fail, they have been relegated. Ha Ha. 
3) The New Stadium site is being cleared and during the next year we can look forward to updates of the new build going up. 
4) We had a fun day out at Wembley in the FA Cup.

Happy days. 

The club's end-of-season awards will be made at our last home league game of the season, against Bury on Saturday 5th May, we expect there to be a full house at Kingsmeadow after the 2-2 draw against the already relegated opposition.

As always there will be two main awards which will be decided by the fans vote.

The WISA Allen Batsford Player of the Year award was won last season by Tom Elliott. This year's winner will be the latest in an illustrious line that stretches back to Kevin Cooper (Mk I), who received the inaugural award on the pitch at Molineux in 2002.

The 2018 winner was announced as -- Deji Oshilaja (right) who completed a clean sweep having already been awarded the WDON award and the Players award.

The Young Player of the Year will receive the Natalie Callow Memorial Trophy, donated by the Womble Underground Press, and won last season by Will Nightingale.  For this award, you can vote for any of the following players who have featured in the first team this season and who were 21 or under on 1 August 2017:

The contenders are as follows;

Alfie Egan

Anthony Hartigan -- Winner !! Congratualtion Anthony. 

Egli Kaja

Toby Sibbick

Paul Kalambayi

Well done to all the winners and we will see who is still around when we come to kick off next season, but it's another season in League One and that's wonderful news with the new stadium going up too which will be something to look ahead to throughout 2018-19.