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

PONTEFRACT SEASON 2016
Sunday 14th August
12th Meeting of this season ...

This will be our 12th meeting of the season on Sunday afternoon for our system that focuses on Pontefract racecourse, West Yorkshire and we've another fixture to enjoy getting underway about 2.15pm.

Currently showing a loss of -44.60 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 2016 season continues with our final Family Day of the season on Sunday 14th August -- the Flying Fillies Family Day. The race day takes its name after the feature race on the day and the richest race to be run at Pontefract in 2016. With £50,000 on offer, the EBF Highfield Farm Flying Fillies’ Stakes has a rich history with some very classy fillies on the role of honour. The 2015 prize went the way of Divine, trained by Mick Channon.

There’ll be some top class horses on show off the track too as old favourites Mr Wolf and Mister McGoldrick, stalwarts of the northern racing circuit in recent years, will be parading before racing starts. 

As has become the custom on Sundays at Pontefract, there’s a lot going on for the kids in the Picnic Enclosure. With kid’s rides, a circus, face painting and free sweets, activity books and racecards, there’s plenty to keep the little ones occupied while mums and dads enjoy some top class racing. Eagle eyed kids need to keep a look out for the lucky Golden Horseshoe too – there’s a hamper of sweets to be won for the first person to find it!

There is some high class supporting action on the track too. The £15,000 tote sponsored handicap over 1½m last year saw the highly talented Almodovar throw victory away by hanging across the track, getting collared late on by Rae Guest’s Headline News. The Stayers are once again back in action for Round 5 of the Stayers Championship, in a race sponsored by Moor Top Farm Shop. Madam Lilibet and American Life currently head the standings but with a whole host of horses snapping at their hooves, the prize is still up for grabs!

The forecast going is currently reported as 'Good, Good to firm in places' the weather for Sunday afternoon is for a fairly cloudy day in the most part, and a good chance of some rain later. The max temp is going to be about 21C but probably a little cooler by race time with plenty of cloud cover. 

Where did the forecast heatwave go guys?

Here are our selections for the 7 race card on Sunday afternoon, remember it's a very simple selection process of stalls 1 and 2 in every race;

2:15 5f Maiden (2yo).
(1) -- JUSTANOTHERBOTTLE  [6th 8/1].
(2) -- DUSTY BIN  [7th 6/1].


2:45 1m 4f 8yds Handicap.
(1) -- PLANE SONG  [3rd 10/1].
(2) -- MAINSTREAM  [2nd 2/1].


3:15 2m 1f 22yds Handicap.
(1) -- ANOTHER LINCOLNDAY  [WON 9/2].
(2) -- RIPTIDE  [2nd 9/2].
Forecast £24.45.


3:45 6f Fillies Stakes (Listed).
(1) -- MEHRONISSA  [WON 5/1].
(2) -- IMTIYAAZ  [5th 16/1].


4:20 1m 4yds Handicap (3yo).
(1) -- ZEALOUS  [Non Runner].
(2) -- AVENUE OF STARS  [Non Runner].


4:50 1m 4yds Maiden.
(1) -- GOING UP  [6th 7/1].
(2) -- OLD CHINA  [8th 33/1].


5:20 6f Handicap.
(1) -- VAN GERWEN  [2nd 3/1].
(2) -- ETERNITY'S GATE  [8th 8/1].


Staked -- 14 points.
Returns -- 13.5 points (Two winners in 3:15, 3:45, and forecast as well plus a pair of non runners in the 4:20 event).

Results will be updated here on Sunday, we hope you enjoying a wonderful weekend in the sunshine.

C/F to next meeting #13 -45.10 points lost.

Our next meeting here will take place on Thursday 15th September.

Just four more meetings to go this season. 

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

SATURDAY 13th AUGUST 2016

YEAH BABY PLAY OFF WINNERS, NOW FOR LEAGUE ONE

This weekend is the Dons opening HOME fixture for the 2016-17 season in League One. Two defeats in the league and league cup this week is not good but that was a similar tale to last season and there is plenty of time for the side to get their act together in what is still a young side finding their feet in this league. 

This Saturday we host Bolton Wanderers at Kingsmeadow and this should be another test for our young team. Even though Bolton were relegated last season and their days of being a premier league side are in the past they still carry a big threat and should be a huge player in this division with the resources now available. Bolton beat Sheffield United 1-0 in their opening fixture last weekend, but like the Dons they also went out of the League Cup losing 4-2 to Blackpool on Tuesday night. 

We shall update on Saturday before kick off with the confirmed starting XI for both sides and any further news as it comes available.

Line Ups (confirmed);

  AFC WIMBLEDON
   Odds -- 6/4 (William Hill) 


 Clarke (Gk),  Fuller (c), Kelly,  Robinson,  Bulman,  Barcham,  Charles,  Parrett,  Reeves,  Taylor,  Elliott,  


Subs – Shea (Gk),  Nightingale,  Beere,  Francomb,  Fitzpatrick,  Barnett,  Poleon

BOLTON WANDERERS
Odds -- 19/10 (William Hill) 


Howard (Gk),  Davies,  Beevers,  Wheater,  Moxey,  Trotter,  Spearing,  Vela,  Buxton,  Proctor,  Madine 




Subs – Amos (Gk),  Clough,  Wilson,  Clayton,  A Taylor,  Taylor,  Woolery


 

H/T Score – 1 - 1

First Half Comment;
A full to bursting Kingsmeadow for the opening home game and a wonderful start for the Dons taking the lead with an excellent curled finish by Andy Barcham in the opening 16 mins. 

A game of few chances after that but sadly for us the trotters squeezed in an equaliser on 36 mins when Gary Madine struck a left footed shot from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal, taking what looked like a deflection or bobble on the way and creeping under goalkeeper Clarke.

Half time approaches and it's fairly even as the scoreline suggests but the Dons should be disappointed not to hold onto a lead again, Bolton having a bit more of the play since they equalised, needs a good half time team talk.
 

F/T Score – 1 - 2

Match Summary;
Three defeats in a row now and not the start to the season we wanted to see. It's going to be hard but this is starting to feel a bit worrying, playing ok (not great, but ok) and creating chances that we are not able to put away. New keeper doesn't seem to command the box and you can't really see many options from the bench at the moment. 

Fair play to Bolton, brought a few fans and didn't panic at 1-0 down and took control. Another game on Tuesday night and chance to get those points on the board before it gets a bit lonely at the bottom.


Man of the Match – Andy Barcham.

Referee -- Our Referee for the Trotters game is Gavin Ward, 46, from Sheppey. Clever boy - works as a Senior Finance Business Partner with Axa in Kingston. He must work with some strapping Wombles who threaten to dangle him off the top of the building if we ever lose a match of his, cos we always do well with him, even though he's a fussy sod.

Attendance – 4,619.

Next match:
Tuesday 16th August vs Scunthorpe (Home)
League One -- KO 7:45pm

KEMPTON PARK RACES 2016 -- WEDNESDAY NIGHTS #23 10th AUGUST

Hope you had a good week since our last outing here at Kempton we are into August with a loss of -33.59 points to work with. Lets see if our winning run can pick up again and continue through into the turn of the year.

Though not as good as recent seasons have begun we do still have plenty of time to recover things. 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 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 11 from 11. Results for this will be kept separately too and hopefully we can remain at 100% for a long while yet.

This week there's a 7 race card on offer, we have 5 handicaps to consider and 2 of those are 2yo nursery's so it's nice and varied. The meeting will commence at 18:10 with a 7f nursery handicap contest for 2yo only.

Here is a link to the evening's race card
http://www.sportinglife.com/racing/meeting/kempton-park/10-08-2016/fast-cards







The going on the polytrack surface is described as Standard to Slow and the current weather forecast is for a patchy day with sunshine but plenty of cloud. The temperature is likely to remain at about 20C when the meetings begins and will cool during the evening there is a small chance of a shower but we should be ok.

Here are our selections for this weeks handicaps;


18:10 -- 7f Nursery Handicap (2yo).
Our opening event for the evening is a nursery for 2yo horses, just the six declared for this JUMPING JACK [2nd 2/1] won last time out and will be fancied to repeat that here over course and distance. Won't be much of a price sadly but should kick us off with a winner.


19:10 -- 6f Nursery Handicap (2yo).
If the opening nursery was poorly attended this one is worse with only four declared. At least all four have a chance and it's fairly wide open. MORNING SUIT [3rd 2/1] has winning form on the track and that should be a huge positive so is our selection in this contest that due to the small field might be tactical.

20:10 -- 7f Handicap.
Bit better card for this action and we side with a pair of seven year olds against the field, both been competing in higher grade and we think the drop down a level might bring them into the thick of things. 

Our selections are PERSONAL TOUCH [5th 12/1] and MEZMAAR [7th 7/2].

20:40 -- 1m Handicap (London Mile Series Qualifier).
Another in the mile series for three year olds and we've a dozen declared for this contest, clearly ABERLADY isn't one of his stable's stars, still a maiden after seven runs but is still given a chance in this low grade, wouldn't be surprised if she was moved on after this season though. 

We will side with the Queen's BONHOMIE [9th 6/1] who won a mile maiden on the AW at Wolves and might be nicely handicapped at this level to take another contest, at least knows how to win which is a plus in this field.

21:10 -- 1m 4f Handicap (3yo).
Our finale tonight sees a field of 13 where MR LANDO [3rd 9/2] is still of interest having won last time out, although that was at Wolves on a different surface he's fit from hurdling too and might be able to take advantage while in the mood. 

Nothing else really stands out, would love to see BARNACLE run well for the late Pat Eddery but was beaten so far last time can't really make a case for him.

Staked -- 6 points
Returns --  NIL points

Loss c/f to the next meeting ; -39.59 Points.

Lays -- 11/11 (Still 100%, nothing tonight).

Results will appear here during the course of Wednesday night. The next Wednesday evening meeting at this course will be on August 17th.