GALWAY FESTIVAL 2020 [JULY 27th -- AUG 2nd] -- DAY FIVE FRIDAY

DAY FIVE
The fifth day is another evening meeting and will begin at 4:45pm with a 2m Maiden Hurdle. The feature race tonight being the €48,000 Guinness Handicap Hurdle over two mile and six furlongs. At least yesterday we found some winners (and non runners) for JP O'Brien to stop the slide, Mr Dermot Weld is not having as many runners this season at his favourite festival yet is still ahead (albeit by 1pt to SP) and overall we are in front which is nice. Also picked up a number of winners with our alternative selections though we not recording them for the stats.

As mentioned on day one our recent years have focused on the horses from trainer Dermot Weld and we will continue to track his progress this week though we might also offer one or two other selections in particular the feature races if no Weld runner is declared. This season we intend to also follow the success of JP O'Brien who often has a nice priced winner and seems to have taken well to training and has the ability to be as good as his father in time.

Going -- NH Good,  Flat Good to Yielding
Weather Forecast -- A high of 23C with plenty of sunshine forecast but also some cloudy in the sky but minor chance of showers, well it is Ireland in summer. 

DAY FIVE SELECTIONS;
4:45  James's Gate Maiden Hurdle
2m 150y  [17 Runners]
Risk Factor  [JP O'Brien]  [Unseated Rider 4/5f]

5:15  Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Hurdle
2m 150y  [18 Runners]
No selections from our two nominated trainers. 
Alternative selection - Enzani [G Elliott] Non Runner

5:45  Guinness Galway Tribes Handicap Hurdle
2m 150y  [18 Runners]
Filon D'Oudairies  [JP O'Brien]  [11th 7/1]

6:15 Guinness Handicap Hurdle

2m 6f 168y  [20 Runners]
No selections from our two nominated trainers. 
Alternative selection - Diamond Hill [W Mullins] [4th 6/1]

6:45 Guinness Beginners Chase
2m 2f 54y  [10 Runners]
Star Max  [JP O'Brien]  [2nd 11/8f]

7:15  Arthur Guinness Chase
2m 6f 111y  [9 Runners]
No selections from our two nominated trainers. 
Alternative selection - The Storyteller  [G Elliott] [WON 10/3]

7:45  Guinness Galway Blazers Handicap Chase
2m 6f 111y  [18 Runners]
No selections from our two nominated trainers. 
Alternative selection - Macgiloney  [Denis Hogan] [5th 9/1]

8:15  Rockshore Light (Pro-Am) Flat Race
2m 150y   [8 Runners]
No selections from our two nominated trainers. 
Alternative selection - Jawbox  [G Elliott]  [6th 2/1]

Day Five Figures -- Results to be updated later tonight.
D Weld   0pts staked today     Returns today   0pts.
p/l for week    +1pts after Day #5
JP O'Brien   3pts staked today    Returns today  0pts.
p/l for week      +0.705pts after Day #5
Overall week p/l to date  +1.705pts after Day #5

Day Six [Saturday] is about to be published and we hope that the weekend can make the figures look a little better. At least Goodwood has been better this year, and we've updated that meeting too already for it's finale.

"GLORIOUS" GOODWOOD FESTIVAL 2020 [TUES 28th JULY - SAT 1st AUG] -- DAY FOUR

FRIDAY Day Four
Thursday results were poor sadly for us but well done to all connected with FANCY BLUE [11/4] winning the Nassau Stakes for Ireland's Donnacha O'Brien an outstanding result for the son of Aiden O'Brien. It's a shame that this meeting goes ahead at the same time as the Galway festival but we enjoy them both at this stage of the summer.

While we are busy at Galway this week [click here for the Galway pages] we only looking at the major races each day not the entire card so focused on the main Group Races or major handicaps through to Saturday which will feature the Stewards Cup Handicap.

Going -- Good.
Weather -- Generally sunny, some clouds and average temps for the time of year with a max high 24C

1:45 Saint Clair Oak Tree Stakes 7f (Group 3) 
Nice field of 13 Fillies and Mares declared for this first Group 3 of the afternoon where globe trotting ONE MASTER [Won 6/4f] looks to be well supported and a winner of several Group One's in France this would be a step down in class for the six year old. The three year old filly ALTHIQA has only raced four times, winning three of them, and further progress would not be a surprise for the Godolphin team who are in good form and also have FINAL SONG another three year old filly who was placed in last years' Queen Mary, then raced with credit in Dubai and came back with a fourth place in the Newmarket 1000 Guineas at 100/1.
Selections - ALTHIQA [3rd 11/2] / FINAL SONG [Non Runner]

2:15 Bonhams Thoroughbred Stakes 1m (Group 3)
The next event has a field of 5 three year olds for our second Group 3 of the afternoon, Khaloosy won the Britannia Stakes Handicap at Royal Ascot in a canter, seeing off the 22 runner field by 4L+ and no surprise they move into Group company straight away. Could be a good thing, price is too short for us so in a small field and possible a tactical affair lets side with the pair of MY OBERON (W Haggas) and TILSIT (C Hills) for a bit of value against the favourite.
Selections -- MY OBERON [2nd 3/1]  / TILSIT [Won 10/1]

 No silly hats this week ... 

2:45 Unibet Golden Mile 1m (Heritage Handicap)

Another mile event now but has 15 runners so will not be straightforward. So will pick a pair against the field and probably going to have one from each side of the draw as we don't know how they will cope although it's not as large a field as we have had in past. Field is led by Urban Icon for Richard Hannon but could be vulnerable with top weight so our first one is MONTATHAM [Non Runner] [drawn 15] who was runner up in the Royal Hunt Cup at Ascot, then scored at Sandown so clearly in good form and going forwards. CLIFFS OF CAPRI [drawn 4] was runner up in a similar race at Ascot on Saturday and assuming that he's none the worse for that effort should be close again from the low side.

Selections -- MONTATHAM [N/R] / CLIFFS OF CAPRI [5th 10/1].

3:15 King George Qatar Stakes 5f (Group 2)
Our next race for today is not as difficult as the big mile handicap above, only seven declared and over 5f plenty of luck is needed, though the one to beat is BATTAASH (pictured below) who has won this three times and will be a short price again today to make it four. AL RAYA along with LIBERTY BEACH could be the ones to chase him home but this appears to be a race to watch and enjoy.
Selections -- BATTAASH to win by over 2L [Won 2 1/4L+ broken the track record]

3:45 L'Ormarins Queens Plate Glorious Stakes 1m 3f 218y (Group 3)
A small select field of seven for this Group 3 worth £28k to the winner, the consistent COMMUNIQUE should go very close again, this experienced horse from Mark Johnston had progressed out of handicap company into winning group races plus he gets this trip well too. The globe trotting DESERT ENCOUNTER still running well as an 8yo will find this a little easier and not to be dismissed. At a big price is LE DON DE VIE who won here last year, and run well in defeat in large field contests so should be able to be closer to the pace and just a shame there's only seven for the place options.
Selections -- DESERT ENCOUNTER (win) / LE DON DE VIE (each way 20/1).

That's all for here on Friday the results to be updated during the afternoon with our final day on Saturday to follow which of course will feature the Stewards Cup. Saturday will therefore be updated soon and the conclusion of this years meeting will feature a great card including the Group 2 Lillie Langtry Stakes and also the Stewards Cup heritage handicap.

🏇 PONTEFRACT HORSE RACING SYSTEM -- 2020 SEASON -- MEETING #5 31st JULY

PONTEFRACT SEASON 2020.
Welcome to the next instalment of our online coverage for the initial part of racing here at Pontefract. Horse racing meetings around the country continue behind closed doors we will continue to cover things as best we can here and then update if/when the guidelines change. 

Official Statement from Pontefract Racecourse regarding Coronavirus; 
*The information below is correct at 5pm on Monday 22nd June and will be updated as and when further information is available and/or updated advice is received.*

At Pontefract Racecourse the safety and welfare of our visitors, racegoers, participants and team is paramount. We are keeping up to date with the latest information and advice from the Government and the British Horseracing Authority and have a team ready to implement recommended actions. We have been allocated 6 race meetings 'Behind Closed Doors'. This means that there will be no public in attendance and race meetings will be open to jockeys, trainers and officials only.
 
Currently have six meetings scheduled 'behind closed doors'.
These will be on:
  Wednesday 10th June
  Monday 15th June
  Tuesday 7th July
  Thursday 23rd July
  Friday 31st July
  Friday 14th August
Now that our season has got underway here at Pontefract a little later than planned of course but we now have the fifth of the revised schedule due on Friday 31st June where the 1st race will be due off around 12:25pm. Nothing stands out as a feature race today, it's a mixture of maiden races and handicaps, the meeting will conclude with a 12f handicap event off around 3:55pm.  It's an eight race card for Friday afternoon and as usual ALL of our 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. After the first couple of meetings of the season despite managing a few winners but sadly not quite enough and thus we carry forward a small loss of -20.24 points to SP as we look ahead to this fifth meeting of the reduced season today.

Hopefully we can come racing again soon ladies

A link to this afternoon's race card can be found here

Going and Weather Details

The going for the next race meeting behind closed doors on Friday 31st July is currently 'Good to firm, Good in places' following a relatively dry week, which is expected to continue over the weekend and into Friday with a top temperature of 17C at the track, although we'll be dry and warm at home of course. Here are our selections for the eight races on Friday afternoon, remember it's a very simple selection process using stalls one and two in every race;

12:25  British Stallion Studs Ebf Maiden Stakes

5f 3yds  [Class 5  7 Runners]

(1) - MIRROR KISSES  [WON 16/5]

(2) - TWILIGHT LUCY  [4th 14/1]

12:55  British Stallion Studs Ebf Pontefract Maiden

6f  [Class 5  13 Runners]

(1) - FAVOURITE NIECE  [6th 66/1]

(2) - FOOTSTEPSTOTHEHART  [2nd 10/3]

13:25  Fly High Faye Nickels Handicap

6f  [Class 5  15 Runners]

(1) - LOFTY  [11th 9/1]

(2) - SIX STRINGS  [6th 12/1]

13:55  Solutions 4 Cleaning Handicap

1m 6yds  [Class 5  12 Runners]

(1) - MONAADHIL  [6th 10/1]

(2) - JAZZ HANDS  [10th 22/1]

14:25  Jayne - On Course Lady Bookmaker Handicap

1m 2f 5yds  [Class 4  6 Runners]

(1) - BARYSHNIKOV  [2nd 4/1]

(2) - EL PICADOR  [3rd 12/1]

14:55  Riu Hotels And Resorts Maiden Handicap

2m 1f 27yds  [Class 5  10 Runners]

(1) - BLUE BEIRUT  [3rd 11/2]

(2) - FRANKENSTELLA  [WON 3/1]

15:25  Bet With Jayne - Your Local Bookmaker Handicap

1m 4f 5yds  [Class 3  5 Runners]

(1) - WHERE'S JEFF  [3rd 12/1]

(2) - SQUELCH  [WON 15/8]

15:55  Tiesplanet.com Handicap

1m 4f 5yds  [Class 5  12 Runners]

(1) - PETITIONER  [4th 8/1]

(2) - INGLEBY HOLLOW  [5th 14/1]

Staked -- 16 points.
Returns -- 11.075 points.

Results will be updated during the afternoon and we will keep a season total as usual though sadly despite a successful meeting #4 we are down by -20.24 as we enter this meeting. Sadly despite a few winners we had to suffer another small loss for this meeting meaning we now at -25.165 after meeting #5.

Our next behind closed doors meeting here will be on Friday 14th August, hope you stay safe and well and perhaps later in the year we can go racing again.

GALWAY FESTIVAL 2020 [JULY 27th -- AUG 2nd] -- DAY FOUR THURSDAY

DAY FOUR THURSDAY
Just the one feature race on Wednesday but we managed to secure the winner and thus moved into profit again for the week. We must move on to our fourth day which will begin in the early evening once again at 4:45pm with a 2m Novice Hurdle. The feature race today, and indeed for the week, is the Grade A Galway Hurdle [6:45] over a two mile trip, and is worth €120,000 euro's to the winner.

As mentioned on day one our recent years have focused on the horses from trainer Dermot Weld and we will continue to track his progress this week though we might also offer one or two other selections in particular the feature races if no Weld runner is declared. This season we intend to follow the success of JP O'Brien who often has a nice priced winner and seems to have taken well to training and has the ability to be as good as his father in time.

Going -- NH -- Good, Flat -- Yielding.
Weather Forecast -- A high of 17C with the overall outlook of rain forecast, wherever you are watching hope you safe and having a good afternoon.
DAY FOUR SELECTIONS;
16:45  Guinness Novice Hurdle
2m 11y  10 Runners
No selections from our two nominated trainers. 
Alternative selection - Shamiyan (each way).

17:15  Guinness Open Gate Brewery Beginners Chase
2m 6f 111y  14 Runners
No selections from our two nominated trainers. 
Alternative selection - Rightplacerighttime (each way)

17:45  Rockshore Novice Chase (Grade 3)
2m 2f 54y  8 Runners
No selections from our two nominated trainers. 
Alternative selection - Polished Steel [Won 9/2]

18:15  Arthur Guinness Handicap Hurdle
2m 11y  18 Runners
No selections from our two nominated trainers. 
Alternative selection - Alabaster / Magic Sea

18:45  Guinness Galway Hurdle Handicap
2m 11y  20 Runners
No selections from our two nominated trainers. 
Alternative selection - Aramon [Won 7/1]  /  Tudor City

19:15  Guinness Novice Hurdle
2m 4f 156y  5 Runners
No selections from our two nominated trainers. 
Alternative selection - The Very Man [Non Runner]

19:45  Open Gate Pure Brew Handicap Hurdle
3m  14 Runners
No selections from our two nominated trainers. 
Alternative selection - The Trigger [Won 4/1]

20:15  Guinness Time Flat Race
2m 2f 59y   12 Runners
Slige Dala  [JP O'Brien]  [Won 11/4]

Day Four Results -- Will be updated here during the course of Thursday evening after racing has concluded. Day Five should be available soon as well as the Goodwood meeting. 

Had plenty of success with our alternative selections this evening, but they won't count for our weekly tally, nice that I can still find winners though eh.  

D Weld 0pts staked today   Returns today 0pts.
p/l for week +1pts after Day #4
JP O'Brien 1pt staked today   Returns today 3.75pts.
p/l for week  +3.705pts after Day #4
Overall week p/l to date  +4.705pts after Day #4

Information and selections for Day Five (Friday) will be published soon, and we'll hope for better luck before we finish on Sunday. Don't forget the Goodwood meeting too and there is also another one for our regular Pontefract meetings which takes place this Friday too, yes it's a very busy week.

"GLORIOUS" GOODWOOD FESTIVAL 2020 [TUES 28th JULY - SAT 1st AUG] -- DAY THREE

THURSDAY Day Three
Wednesday was another successful day for Jim Crowley who claimed the Sussex Stakes with MOHAATHER following his excellent exploits for the owner at Royal Ascot. Only found some places yesterday but have still enjoying all the racing here and at Galway.

We are only looking at the major races each day not the entire card so focused on the main Group Races or major handicaps. So lets look at Day Three which is of course Ladies Day where the feature race will be the Group 1 Nassau Stakes worth £300,000 this year, prize money having been reduced throughout the return to racing;

Going -- Good, Good to soft in places.
Weather -- Generally sunny, bit breezy and high 24C

2:15 6f Qatar Richmond Stakes (Group 2).
Just the seven runners for our first Group contest today, beginning with Admiral Nelson failed to spark in the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot for Aiden O'Brien but runners from these connections shouldn't be ignored and this smaller field should make it easier. Gussy Mac comes here seeking a hat trick of wins but this is another big step up in class while support for QAADER (Mark Johnston) should be noted, was runner up in the same Coventry race that Admiral Nelson ran in and then went on to be 4th in the July Stakes at Newmarket (Group 2) so should not be too far away. YAZAMAN was runner up to the Queen's horse in that contest and it's those two I'll take against the field. 
Selections: QAADER  /  YAZAMAN.

No silly hats this year ... 

2:45 1m 3f 218y Qatar Gordon Stakes (Group 3).
A good quality event for the field of just six three year olds here, only £42k for the for the winner this year sadly, ENGLISH KING [Ed Walker] was close to favouritism for the Derby at Epsom but only managed to reach 5th there this is a marked stepped down in class and should be able to make his presence felt with Frankie Dettori on board once more. Mogul has not really fired as a 3yo for Aiden O'Brien and is passed over again in this small field instead we look at KHALIFA SAT who was a massive price runner up in the Epsom classic and we will see if he's able to confirm that form.
Selection: ENGLISH KING.

DEIRDRE WINNER OF LAST YEARS NASSAU FOR JAPAN

3:35 1m 2f Nassau Stakes (Group 1).
Also labelled as the Fillies Group 1 today this has attracted nine runners for ladies day and has a win pot of over £140k on offer. Last years winner DEIRDRE reappears to defend her crown and despite being beaten in the Eclipse it wouldn't be a big surprise if she was successful again as there's nothing in the field of the same class as Sandown winner Ghaiyyath or Enable here. NAZEEF is a filly on the up and continues to improve winning listed events, a Group 2 at Ascot and then a Group 1 (Falmouth Stakes) at Newmarket the 4yo ran on well to score there and won't mind the trip nor the uphill finish. As Jim Crowley is retained to ride for Nazeef we find Frankie Dettori on Aiden O'Brien's runner Magic Wand was runner up in the valuable Hong Kong Cup and also last years Irish Champion Stakes might have to play second again here but clearly a well travelled mare and will continue to earn big money.
Selections:  DEIDRE  /  NAZEEF. 

That's all for Thursday, results will be updated during the afternoon, and we had a very successful day today with two winners and profit on the day, and we will soon have an update for Friday which will feature the £300,000 Qatar King George Stakes (Group 2) where Battaash will be looking to win for the fourth time. Add in three further top quality races and Friday of the Qatar Goodwood Festival has to be one of the most enthralling day's racing in the entire calendar.

GALWAY FESTIVAL 2020 [JULY 27th -- AUG 2nd] -- DAY THREE WEDNESDAY

DAY THREE
The Galway festival is off with a bang, after the first couple of days results we are going steadily all things considered with Dermot Weld still ahead on +1pts after two days, and JP O'Brien back on -4.045pts for their selections and therefore we are -3.045pts points overall. The third day begins in the early evening again the opening fixtures will begin at 4:45pm with a 2m novice hurdle, but the feature race this afternoon is the Grade A Galway Plate over 2m 6f which will get underway at 7:20pm. 

Don't miss our Goodwood coverage too today click to view Wednesday

As mentioned on day one our recent years we have focused on the horses from trainer Dermot Weld and we will continue to track his progress this week though we might also offer one or two other selections in particular the feature races if no Weld runner is declared. Also for this season we intend to follow the success of JP O'Brien who often has a nice priced winner and seems to have taken well to training and has the ability to be as good as his father in time.

Going -- NH -- Good ; Flat -- Good to Yielding
Weather Forecast -- A high of 17C with a chance of a few showers later as it has been so far this week.

DAY THREE SELECTIONS;
Surprised by the lack of entries from our two nominated trainers for today, only two selections for JP O'Brien in the feature race today so we'll just cover that one on Wednesday and see what the rest of the week has in store. 

6:45 - thetote.com Galway Plate (Handicap Chase) (Grade A)
2m 6f 111y  [22 Runners]
JP O'Brien has the only runners for us on Wednesday and all three of them run in the feature contest the Galway Plate. A race worth €120,000.00 to the winner so hopefully one of US AND THEM  /  MORTAL  /  EARLY DOORS [WON 7/1] can be successful for us this evening and keep the numbers ticking over. The big yards are multi represented too and Easy Game could be the best option from Willie Mullins, and Galvin likewise from Gordon Elliott. 


Day Three results;
Will be updated on Wednesday night.
D Weld Nil pts staked today     Returns today  0pts.
p/l for week    +1pt after Day #3
JP O'Brien 3pts staked today    Returns today +8pts.
p/l for week       +0.955pts after Day #3
Overall week p/l to date   +1.955pts after Day #3

Results to update later tonight, and Day Four should be ready by then, not forgetting our other updates this week from the 'Glorious' Goodwood meeting.

"GLORIOUS" GOODWOOD FESTIVAL 2020 [TUES 28th JULY - SAT 1st AUG] -- DAY TWO

WEDNESDAY Day Two
Second day here in Sussex and very nice to have ourselves an early winner with Battleground getting our week off to a nice start in the vintage stakes. The Goodwood Cup was won by Stradivarius for a fourth time, getting out of the traffic and used his class well, by doing so he helped to land some nice multiple bets too.

It's a busy week of action here and we crack on with Wednesday where we have the feature event the Group 1 Sussex Stakes. No crowds of course, except on Saturday were I understand 5,000 spectators are expected to attend as one of a handful of test events which might help see a limited return to 'normal' racing. Attendance will initially be offered to Goodwood annual members and their guests.

We are only looking at the major races each day not the entire card so focused on the main Group Races or major handicaps. The meeting runs to Saturday and we'll updating throughout the week alongside the festival over at Galway.

The Qatar Sussex Stakes is one of the highlights of the flat racing season, still a Group One but with reduced prize money available this summer so we'll see if we still attract a high-class field from UK, Ireland and France. This mile-long Group 1 race has previously been won by the peerless Frankel, the French sensation Solow and in 2017, by the 20/1 shot Here Comes When. Last year we witnessed Too Darn Hot winning for trainer John Gosden. Racing will commence earlier than usual at 1.10pm with a fillies handicap and the last race will be concluded at 4.20pm with another 7f handicap. 

So lets look at day two we've got a pair of Group races today with the Group 3 Molecomb Stakes off at 2:45 supporting the feature event the Group 1 Sussex Stakes at 3:15.

Going -- Good, Good to soft in places.

Weather -- Generally a cloudy day expected, can get a bit breezy a 50/50 chance of some showers during the day, high 20C. Though as we not going it doesn't matter as long as there is not too much more rain to change the forecast going.

2:45 Molecomb Stakes 5f (Group 3)
Strong field of 10 line up for the 5f sprint that is the Group 3 Molecomb Stakes today. The 2yo's are headed by Army of India for Mark Johnston, has won a couple of small races either side of being well out the back in the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot and seems to have a lot to do in this company. Significantly has been runner up on all three of his starts to date, and while the latest run was a listed event at Sandown must be showing more speed at home to be lifted into Group company now, while support for Aiden O'Brien's runner CHIEF LITTLE HAWK should be noted given his strong owners wasn't disgraced in the Windsor Castle stakes at Ascot and one of the more likely winners here. Will pick that one together with SARDINIA SUNSET the filly gets a handy weight allowance and did win a listed event last time at York and very good fourth in the Queen Mary too. 
  
Selections - CHIEF LITTLE HAWK [4th 12/1] / SARDINIA SUNSET [6th 4/1].
 
3:35 Sussex Stakes 1m (Group 1)
A field of 7 declared for the feature race today, made difficult as Aiden has declared three CIRCUS MAXIMUS, looks the strongest as a multiple Group 1 winner (Queen Anne stakes this year) Vatican City (midfield in The Derby) and Wichita (runner up in the Newmarket 2000 Guineas) they are all well respected but would expect the experience of the 4yo to count in this field. Away from his trio we have the two winners of the Colt's classic Kameko and the unbeaten SISKIN. Not much between the pair but Siskin might have bit more speed though neither would want too much more rain. 
  
Selections - CIRCUS MAXIMUS [2nd 6/1] / SISKIN [3rd 9/4f].

Wednesday results to be updated later. Then we will prepare for Day Three which should be ready soon and we'll try and keep things going before the end of the meeting this Saturday. Thursday of course is Ladies Day usually would have been the most glamorous day of the meeting, sadly no one here till Saturday at the earliest. The prestigious Group 1 Qatar Nassau Stakes won last year by Deirdre is the highlight of the eight-race card and the raider from Japan looks set to return to defend her crown. Previous winners include Ouija Board, Midday and Minding. Expect fierce competition as the best of the best compete against the backdrop of the stunning Sussex Downs.