BANK HOLIDAY MONDAY RACING -- 27th MAY 2019

Has been a very busy time for horse-racing for me of late, enjoyed my 50th Birthday at Ascot at the beginning of May and then last week had a great evening out to Sandown Park for my brothers birthday. 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 it is just that I am getting older now 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? Probably just my imagination or memory playing tricks on me now that I am older ... still a good day to be enjoyed out there.

CARTMEL BANK HOLIDAY FIXTURES ARE BUSY

National Hunt fixtures;
Cartmel (above) -- the 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 3 Veterans Handicap Chase off at 15:20 and a field of 10 has been declared where I fancy the chances of DOING FINE with Tom Scudamore in the saddle.

Huntingdon -- The other NH meeting this afternoon begins at 13:30 and has been billed as their "family fun day". Another seven 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 15:15 and might well go to the consistent ISTIMRAAR who does mix hurdles and chases and is usually in the frame. (Non Runner).

Flat fixtures;
CHELMSFORD CITY (All weather) -- The Essex course hosts their Family Fun Day in aid of Help for Heroes. First race is at 14.00 and there's a load of competitions to get involved with for a great cause, children go free, and there's plenty of their favourite superheroes too. Their best race is only a class 4 handicap (15:50) over two miles which can go to the Charlie Fellowes trained CARNWENNAN [WON 11/8F] who won a similar event at York and this four year old could still be on the upgrade now over these trips.

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 13:50  with a 2yo novice event that can go to MECCA'S HOT STEPS here the Zetland is off at 16:10 very competitive as always and I've have a look at both EPAULEMENT (a course and distance winner with a similar size field) with SOCIETY RED against the rest.

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 handicap that can go to Rossa Ryan riding AL BARG. Their feature race is the Victoria Park Handicap a race for three year olds off at 14:55 which can go to the Clive Cox trained filly HERITAGE.

WINDSOR -- host their family fun day too with Free rides galore, including the UK's largest dodgems, and a seven race card to enjoy (though you won't see much away from the large screens though due to the track configuration) first race is off at 13.55 which is a 6f handicap and can go to BELATED BREATH [WON 13/8F].

Their big race of the day goes off at 15:05 and is the sprint handicap over five furlongs for three year olds. A race where we hope Ryan Moore can get DEPUTISE away on terms this time having stumbled out the stalls on previous appearance.

IRELAND;
BALLINROBE -- The only Irish meeting today is an evening NH fixture beginning at 17:45. They have a couple of nice races but the biggest prize on offer tonight is in the 18:45 Mares Handicap Hurdle which can go the way of the Gordon Elliott trained ARCTIC SOFIA who is lightly raced and can continue to improve for her new trainer.

Whatever you doing this Bank Holiday I hope it's sunshine and fun for you. Enjoy your day and back to work tomorrow. 

PONTEFRACT HORSE RACING SYSTEM -- 2019 SEASON -- MEETING #4

PONTEFRACT SEASON 2019.

Welcome to our fourth meeting of the season on Friday 24th May. 

1st race 6.30pm, gates open from 4pm.

The 2019 season continues with 80s Night with Billy Ocean. Evening meetings are always extremely popular at Pontefract and the first of three this season is 80s Night on Friday Evening 24th May. It’s the first of two Music Nights (the other being on Friday Evening 19th July) and with one of the world’s biggest international male soloists from the 80s, Billy Ocean, playing after the last race, it promises to be the best 80’s Night yet!

Billy Ocean has sold over 30 million records in his lifetime to date. With number one hits in the UK, USA, Australia, Germany and Holland, he’s achieved extraordinary success as both an artist and songwriter. Born in Trinidad, Billy settled in London’s East End when he was just seven and was quickly inspired by the likes of Otis Redding, Sam Cooke, The Beatles and The Rolling Stones. His first big break came when’ Love Really Hurts Without You’ reached No. 2 in the UK charts and No. 12 in the US. Other huge hits, including ‘Red Light Spells Danger’, followed on, before the million selling, Grammy Award winning, US Number 1 ‘Caribbean Queen’, ‘Loverboy’ and ‘Suddenly’.

There were even more huge hits with ‘When The Going Gets Tough (the tough get going)’ and ‘There’ll Be Sad Songs (to make you cry)’ before the now classic ‘Get Outta My Dreams; Get Into My Car’ gave Billy his third US No. 1. With a back catalogue like this, the 24th May promises to be one of the best music nights that Pontefract has ever seen! With tickets limited, Racegoers are encouraged to secure their place early.

On the track, the highlight is the 6 furlong £25,000 EBF VW Van Centre [Leeds] Ltd Youngsters Conditions Stakes [19:30]. There is an impressive list of previous winners and last year’s victor, Ninetythreetwenty, went on to finish 6th to Calyx at Royal Ascot and has now been sold to continue his racing career in Hong Kong. The race always attracts some interesting and precocious juveniles looking to stake their claim for Royal Ascot glory the following month.

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 did have a nice one last time and reduced our losses a little plus picked up a handy forecast win. So as we enter meeting four we are sadly down by -10.125 points to SP. 

The forecast going is now currently reported as 'Good to Firm, Good in places' and our weather for Friday evening is for a generally cloudy day with sunshine and a moderate breeze but hopefully not too much wind to spoil the evening we've a forecast maximum temperature around the 17C mark when racing begins.

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

18:30 1m 6yds Handicap.
(1) -- FRANKSTER  [5th 3/1].
(2) -- MISS SHERIDAN  [WON 8/1].

19:00 1m 4f 5yds Handicap.
(1) -- CHAMPAGNE RULES  [WON 12/1].
(2) -- ZIHAAM  [6th 9/1].

19:30 6f Conditions Stakes (2yo).
(1) -- SHOW ME SHOW ME  [2nd 9/4].
(2) -- MONOSKI [WON 4/7F].

20:00 5f 3yds Handicap.
(1) -- VAN GERWIN  [3rd 5/1].
(2) -- ANOTHER ANGEL [5th 12/1].

20:30 1m 2f 5yds Fillies Handicap.
(1) -- BRAVANTINA  [9th 33/1].

(2) -- SAMSTAR  [3rd 5/1].

21:00 6f Novice Stakes (3yo).

(1) -- THE GINGERBREADMAN  [5th 50/1].

(2) -- DREAM OF HONOUR  [3rd 6/1].

Staked -- 12 points.

Returns -- 23.57 points.

Having started the 2019 season afresh, we fell behind in the opening few rounds but won a little last time and now have a small loss of -10.125 coming into the fourth meeting. 

Results will be updated during Friday evening, off to a great start with the first THREE winners and now in profit for the season. A profit of +11.57 tonight which wipes out the season losses and leaves us on +1.445 heading on to meeting five. 

Our next meeting here will be another evening one on Monday 10th June so we do hope to see you then.

SANDOWN PARK BRIGADIER GERARD MEETING -- THURSDAY 23rd MAY (Evening)

The best quality evening race meeting of the season takes place at Sandown Park on Thursday 23rd May. This meeting features two Group Three races on it's six race card, the Henry II Stakes run over 2m, 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 a wonderful evening card and it was hoped that ITV would repeat their coverage on TV which they successfully trialled last season here, yet sadly it appears the cameras are not here which is disappointing. 


It's 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; LINK



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

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

Tonight's exciting meeting gets underway with this competitive handicap over 1m 2f. A field of 14 go to post, headed by UTHER PENDRAGON [3rd 10/1] who's record of 2 wins from 30 starts suggests that this higher grade will be too much and is left out. MATEWAN [13th 4/1] improving for the increase in trip and though this is seasonal debut the fact that Ryan Moore has been booked for the ride will put him high on the short list. 

NAWAR [11th 14/1] is the one for the place bet, regularly reaching the frame and this trip should be well within his range so 12/1 looks appealing.

Winner - MY BOY SEPOY 5/1.

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, for which we have a short price favourite in FULL AUTHORITY a winner at Chester but this is a straight track and I can't be sure how good that form will be. which both FLIPPA THE STRIPPA [WON 16/1] and JIM JACKSON [2nd 10/1] could offer bit of value with champion jockeys in the saddle.

Winner - FLIPPA THE STRIPPA 16/1.
7:05pm THE HENRY II STAKES (Group 3) 
2 mile 50 yards.

The first of our two Group Three's tonight, the stayers event will see recent Ascot Sagaro winner DEE EX BEE [WON 4/7] aim to cement his place in the Ascot Gold Cup reckoning (although Stradivarius is going to be hard to beat) certainly stayed on to win well at Ascot and will be fancied for the repeat.

Last years winner MAGIC CIRCLE [Non Runner] should be the main danger, the Chester Cup winner might have flopped in Melbourne but won by 6L last year and as long as a good gallop is maintained should be a good Gold Cup trial. While Sir Michael Stoute should never be underestimated his MEKONG might find this trip a step too far.

Winner - DEE EX BEE 4/7.

7:35pm THE BRIGADIER GERARD STAKES (Group 3) 
1 miles 2 furlongs.

Only a small field of 6 for the feature event tonight, a race that might well end up as a match between MATTERHORN (M Johnston) and REGAL REALITY [WON 9/4] (Sir M Stoute). Can't really make a case for the others as HERE COMES WHEN surely needs soft ground to excel and that's not going to happen tonight. Ryan Moore could have a really good night and he can boot Regal Reality home who having already won a G3 race at Goodwood last year then competed at G2 level really has the best form on this going.

Winner - REGAL REALITY 9/4.

8:10pm THE HERON STAKES (Listed Race)
1 mile 2 furlongs.

A field of eight declared and we hope they will all stand their ground for the place options, while Stoute/Moore again have the fav with SANGARIUS there is a question as to what improvement has taken place from two to three with many of these so we are going to oppose this with the John Gosden trained KING OF COMEDY [WON 9/4F] with Detorri up. While doesn't have the form or fancy entries of the favourite has had a run this year winning at Yarmouth so fit and ready to do battle. 

DARK VISION [4th 10/1] was outclassed in the 2000 Guineas but this is more realistic and is included in the place bets as long as all eight stand.

Winner - KING OF COMEDY 9/4F.

8:40pm WHITSUN CUP HANDICAP 
1 mile.

Our finale is a field of 10 over the mile course before we all make a dash to the station for the train home. Top weight GREENSIDE won this two years back and could well have a say again, while LUSH LIFE [WON 11/4] would not be winning out of turn for Jamie Osborne and Jamie Spencer it would be nice if he did me a good turn for once. IVEGOTTHEPOWER [4th 16/1] should also be a lot better for the seasonal return and fast ground will be to his advantage a big price at 33/1.

Winner - LUSH LIFE 11/4.

Have a fun evening and Happy Birthday brother Graham.

That was a GOOD night out !!

KEMPTON PARK RACES 2019 -- WEDNESDAY NIGHTS #11 22nd MAY

Continuing with the next instalment of what I hope will prove to be a productive year throughout 2019.

It's May, we've had the opening classics at Newmarket and The Derby is just over a week away. Most importantly though the football season is over and well done to Manchester City holding off Liverpool to win this year's Premier League in what has been a thrilling climax to this season. Also well done to the four English clubs reaching the Champions League and Europa League finals but over and above ALL of that AFC WIMBLEDON did their own miracle escape and stayed up. At one point we were 10 points adrift at the bottom, so an incredible run of form meant we managed to avoid relegation on goal difference on the final day (phew) so another season in League One for us before the massive move into the new stadium on plough lane. 

Back now after a short break to focus on the all weather horse racing now while the lights still shine brightly here at Kempton Park throughout this year. We are hopeful of better season than we experienced last year but it's just some fun and excitement to mix up the week we have started the first quarter well though so it's positive thus far. 


Let us continue with this our eleventh Wednesday night of 2019, and will continue to focus on the handicap contests for each Wednesday evening meeting though we will also occasionally include a feature listed or conditions event too if there is one 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. 

Following a nice win last time we clawed back a little of our our deficit and we are currently on -13.90 points to SP returns overall. But I'm fine with it so far and there's plenty of time to get this back on track. 

Again throughout the year we will keep up with our occasional lay opportunities of anticipated short priced favourites too. Naturally we will keep these results separately from the handicap figures we have been fairly successful with our selections so far and last time got both selections beat which means we are now 9/16 we will continue with this through 2019. 

This Wednesday will be meeting number eleven for the 2019 AW season and we are expecting a seven race card tonight with five handicaps this week for us to look through and enjoy. The action which will now commence at 17:55 with our first handicap over a mile for apprentices and the card ends around about 20:55 with our final handicap contest over seven furlongs.

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 lot of cloudy with fair chance of rain a top temperature will be about 19C by the time the meeting gets underway.

Here are our handicap selections for tonight;

17:55 -- 1m Apprentice Handicap (3yo).
We open the meeting tonight with an apprentice riders handicap contest over a mile, a race this is for three year olds only. Decent field here with 14 runners declared, and headed be Mick Channon's DANCING JO [6th 7/1] who while a few pounds higher than her most recent winning mark could still find a place possible and 14/1 represents an each way interest. 

The one to consider must be Jamie Osborne's CAPOFARO [WON 11/4] not only a course and distance winner here but a winner of four from his last five and might still be ahead of the handicapper with the yard capable of exploiting that mark. 

18:25 -- 1m Handicap.
Another mile handicap next but for professional riders and slightly higher in grade, still an interesting contest with a field of 14 headed by RAMPANT LION. My pic would have to include NAHHAM [7th 9/1] who has been twice successful in novice events including around here. ONE COOL DADDY [12th 12/1] was a winner too last year, and is lightly raced so might have a handicap in him.


19:55 -- 1m 2f 219y Handicap.
This class 3 handicap probably the better event of the card and the eleven are headed by BIG KITTEN [Non Runner] who was been a twice winner at Newcastle and several runner up berths too, well worth a look in the market tonight. While the bottom weight WIMPOLE HALL [4th 20/1] has De Sousa in the saddle plus plenty of experience around this track which might bring about a good showing with a place bet advised. The improving LEXINGTON EMPIRE [LAY] is up another 10lb for his latest win and with competition all around that might be too steep a rise too quickly so is the first LAY bet tonight.

20:25 -- 1m 3f 219y Handicap.
Another lay bet first here with top weight LADY OF AUTHORITY [LAY] who would surely be better around Wolves and has not fired here in similar races even allowing for the claiming rider. That CROESO CYMRAEG [WON 7/2] has had a three month break before attempting the hat trick might mean that there's been chance to let those two races settle and I think a big effort is expected tonight off only a few pounds higher mark. DIAMOND REFLECTION [] is another with plenty of experience and this is his mark too, has been hurdling but no back number on the flat so is included in the mix.

20:55 -- 7f Handicap.
We conclude this evenings racing with a seven furlong handicap and a field of eleven go to post. Named the "Tony Sheedy Is Getting Married Handicap" I think we should first congratulate Tony and his partner on their happy day (noted there's no mention of the other half) and I hope they have a great time. 

Selections will be SOAR ABOVE [] along with CHLOELLIE [3rd 2/1] both have course and distance wins to their resumé and should take a strong hold in the closing event.

Staked -- 12 points.
Returns -- 9.25 points.

Results will appear here later during Wednesday evening. We are currently on a deficit of -13.90 points to SP returns for the season, seven months of the season to go though. Only two winners (1NR) means a small loss again of -2.75, thus we move onto -16.65 going onto meeting twelve.

LAYS -- 9/16. Got both selections beat last time and will see if we can find one or two short priced selections and will post here if we have any for tonight. Both beaten tonight which was nice so that's 11/18 moving forwards.

Tonight's Lays;

LEXINGTON HALL [19:55]  LOST 7th.

LADY OF AUTHORITY [20:25]  LOST 8th.

Our twelfth meeting for this year will be held next month on Wednesday 5th June so hope to see you then and throughout 2019 too.

FA CUP FINAL WEEKEND. SATURDAY 18th MAY 2019

WATFORD - 0
MANCHESTER CITY - 6
D Silva 26', Sterling 81' 87', De Bruyne 61', Jesus 38' 68'

Kick Off 5:00pm Live on BBC1
The greatest domestic cup competition in the world gets full attention today across the BBC network as they 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 5pm and not 3pm where it traditionally should be but never mind. 

This season is the 138th FA Cup Final and it could have been Manchester City on the way to a Quadruple sadly for them they have been beaten by Tottenham in the Champions League and Liverpool have been on their case all season in the Premier League, they do however already hold the League Cup but lets not discount Watford who on their day can given anyone a game and you must remember Wigan turned over City not that long ago here. 

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 I don't think the teams even bother with a FA Cup final song anymore (remember Chas and Dave with Ossie's Dream anyone) but I suspect that City will be singing Blue Moon and Watford have an enormous Elton John back catalogue to choose from. 


1pm
We start our FA Cup Final Saturday with FOOTBALL FOCUS, Dan Walker presents the weekly magazine programme live from Wembley Stadium ahead of the FA Cup final between Watford and Manchester City he will be joined by Alex Scott and Roberto Martinez. 

2pm Jason Mohammad hosts build-up to the 138th FA Cup final at Wembley, introducing analysis, features and interviews. Followed by a break for the National and Local News services.

3.55pm 
Gary Lineker hosts live coverage of the 138th FA Cup final at Wembley, where Watford will try to upset the odds against Manchester City and lift the trophy for the first time. The FA Cup is the one domestic trophy that City manager Pep Guardiola has yet to win in English football, and his team will be determined to end an impressive season on a high. City have won the FA Cup five times before, although only one of those has come in the last 50 years, with Yaya Toure earning them victory against Stoke in 2011.

Watford’s only previous FA Cup final appearance came in 1984, when they were beaten 2-0 by Everton. The Hornets will begin as underdogs against City’s superstars but will believe anything is possible, having come from 2-0 down to beat Wolves 3-2 in the semi-finals.

Alan Shearer and Ian Wright provide expert analysis and then we are almost ready to end the build up as the teams come out about 4:45pm for the traditional ceremonies and we will be treated to the traditional Cup Final anthem 'Abide With Me' kick-off is scheduled for 5.00pm.

The line ups will be confirmed during the course of the program; 

MANCHESTER CITY Team News;

Ederson (Gk)

Walker    Kompany (c)   Laporte    Zinchenko 

 D Silva    Gündogan    Mahrez 

B Silva    Jesus    Sterling

Subs -- Muric (Gk),  Danilo, Stones, Agüero, De Bruyne, Sané, Otamendi

Aguero on the bench and no place at all for Phil Foden!

WATFORD Team News;

Gomes (Gk)

 Feminia    Mariappa    Cathcart 

Holebas    Capoue    Doucoure    Hughes

Deulofou    Deeney (c)    Pereyra

Subs -- Foster (Gk),  Janmaat,  Success,  Masina,  Gray,  Cleverly,  Kabasele

Our match referee for today's showpiece final will be Kevin Friend [Leicestershire and Rutland FA]. He will be joined by assistant referees Constantine Hatzidakis [Kent FA] and Matthew Wilkes [Birmingham FA], fourth official Graham Scott [Berkshire and Buckinghamshire FA] and reserve assistant referee Edward Smart [Birmingham FA].

The FA Cup Final will feature VAR and Andre Marriner [Birmingham FA] will be the video assistant referee for the match. Marriner will be joined at Stockley Park by the assistant VAR Harry Lennard [Sussex FA]..

My best bets are for a high scoring game, so back the over 3.5 goals market [at 6/4]. Also think a penalty awarded is a good bet [3/1] as well as backing Troy Deeney to score at any time [4/1] as long as he starts the tie (he does, great) 

Latest Odds (from William Hill)

MANCHESTER CITY - 1/4  /  Draw - 5/1  /  WATFORD - 11/1