PONTEFRACT HORSE RACING SYSTEM -- 2019 SEASON -- MEETING #3

PONTEFRACT SEASON 2019.

Welcome to our third meeting of the season on Wednesday 1st May. 

1st race 2.20pm, gates open from 12 noon.

Wednesday 1st May is a day when Pontefract traditionally looks to the future stars of racing, both human and equine. It’s the 30th Annual Northern Racing College Charity Day!

The race meeting is unique in the fact that the majority of the card sees races sponsored by different bookmakers who traditionally set aside their commercial rivalry on this day in order to encourage the grass roots and future of the sport.

The Northern Racing College, based just outside Doncaster, was set up in 1984 and provides a range of courses at all levels for people who are looking at the horse racing industry as a future career. It also offers those currently in the business the chance to develop their qualifications and skills.

The racing on the day casts an eye to future stars. The opening 2yo Novice Stakes, sponsored by EBF and William Hill is historically an informative event. The race was won a few years ago by the subsequent globetrotting superstar, Peniaphobia, a regular in Group 1 races in Hong Kong in recent years. Kevin Ryan took the race with Celebrity Dancer last year who himself looks to be pretty smart and went on to be placed in the valuable Goffs yearling sales race at York. In fact, Kevin Ryan could be a trainer to keep an eye out for on this day – he trained three winners on this day last year with Kings Full and Savannah Moon adding to his tally! 

The 3yo Maiden on the card also has a rich history – John Gosden’s Royal Ascot winner ‘Remote’ made his debut in this a few years ago while last year, Mark Johnston’s Making Miracles was just touched off before continuing rapid improvement throughout the season running in some of the most competitive long distance handicaps around at Royal Ascot and York. We’ll be on the lookout for another superstar to hit the Ponte turf this year.

ALL results for these fixtures are recorded 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. Following a slow start to meetings one and two we only found a couple of winners and are sadly down by -14.125 points to SP going into meeting number three. 

The forecast going is now currently reported as 'Good to Firm, Good in places' the weather for Wednesday afternoon is for a generally cloudy day with some chance of showers but hopefully not too much rain to spoil the day we've a forecast maximum temperature around the 17C mark.

Here are our selections for the eight races on Wednesday afternoon, remember it's a very simple selection process using stalls one and two in every race;

14:25 5f 3yds Novice Stakes (2yo).
(1) -- KIDDA  [WON 4/1].
(2) -- XCELENTE  [2nd 4/9].

15:00 1m 2f 5yds Maiden (3yo).
(1) -- SELINO  [2nd 14/1].
(2) -- DARWIN DREAM  [6th 6/1].

15:35 1m 2f 5yds Handicap.
(1) -- IDEAL CANDY  [2nd 2/1].
(2) -- RONNIE THE ROOSTER  [6th 20/1].

16:10 1m 6yds Handicap.
(1) -- ROYAL SHAHEEN  [6th 17/2].
(2) -- MOUNT ARARAT  [3rd 5/1].

16:45 6f Handicap.
(1) -- HIGHLY SPRUNG  [WON 4/1].

(2) -- ROUND THE ISLAND  [4th 9/2].

17:15 6f Handicap (3yo).

(1) -- LADY CALCARIA  [3rd 2/1].

(2) -- ASCOT DREAMER  [4th 5/1].

17:50 5f 3yds Apprentice Handicap..

(1) -- PEGGIE SUE  [WON 7/1].
(2) -- RICKYROADBOY  [2nd 10/1].
F/C £74.35

Staked -- 14 points.

Returns -- 18 points.

We started the 2019 season afresh, but sadly the first couple of meetings have seen a small loss of -14.125 so we will see if we can get that turned around this time. We will have to see how the journey this year goes, it can be a rough ride sometimes. Results will be updated during the evening as I am away at Ascot 'Gold Cup Trial' Meeting today for my 50th Birthday !

Picked up a small profit today, a nice forecast too in the process, and had a good day at Ascot too. Now a loss of -10.125 to go on to meeting four.

Our next meeting here will be the first evening one on Friday 24th May so we do hope to see you then.