PONTEFRACT HORSE RACING SYSTEM -- 2017 TURF SEASON -- PART THIRTEEN

PONTEFRACT SEASON 2017
Thursday 21st September
Welcome to this our thirteenth meeting racing in Yorkshire.




Our thirteenth meeting for 2017 we arrive on the back of a 'successful day' last time where we found FIVE winners however our overall loss was increased ever so slightly and we now have a figure of -10.26 points for the season. Just another three more meetings this season so hopefully end up back in profit before then. We commence on Thursday afternoon with the first race off about 2:20pm. 

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 forecast going is currently reported as 'Good to soft' the weather for Thursday is for a rather cloudy day and possibility of some heavy rain showers during the course of the afternoon with a forecast maximum temperature around 16C. Take a brolly.

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

2:20 5f 3yds Maiden Stakes (2yo).
(1) -- EEH BAH GUM  [11th 50/1].
(2) -- BLACK FRIDAY  [2nd 4/1].

2:50 1m 6yds Handicap.
(1) -- MR COOL CASH  [2nd 9/2].
(2) -- BRIYOUNI  [Withdrawn NR].

3:25 1m 2f 5yds Handicap.
(1) -- ROYAL SHAHEEN  [WON 4/1].
(2) -- LUDORUM  [6th 7/2].

4:00 6f Fillies Handicap.
(1) -- MARIE OF LYON  [WON 3/1].
(2) -- TIRANIA  [2nd 5/2].

4:30 2m 1f 27yds Handicap (3yo).
(1) -- TRANSPENNINE STAR  [2nd 2/1].
(2) -- ALMOST GEMINI  [3rd 6/1].

5:05 1m 2f 5yds Maiden.
(1) -- URBAN SPIRIT  [5th 50/1].
(2) -- FRANKSTER  [2nd 25/1].

5:35 6f Apprentice Handicap.
(1) -- KI KI  [10th 14/1].
(2) -- MY GIRL MAISIE  [2nd 3/1].


Staked -- 14 points.
Returns -- 10 points.

Results for this afternoon's meeting will be updated later. As we seek to clear our current loss for the season from it's current value of -10.26 to bring forward to next meeting.

Two winners and several near misses with place efforts so far, note quite a successful week and dropped 4 points to -14.26. 

Our next meeting here will be held on Thursday 28th September.

Hope you can keep following us throughout the season.

KEMPTON PARK RACES 2017 -- WEDNESDAY NIGHTS #24 13th SEPTEMBER

Welcome to our twenty fourth meeting of 2017 here at Kempton Park and after successful week last time out we have made a small dent in our losses for the year and come into this week with a sum of -30.045 points to level stakes at SP. Losing about 3 - 4 points a month throughout the season isn't that terrible (ok, yes it is) and I think we'd be a bit better off than we are with the number of winners that we pick up since January by taking early prices online however we record to SP and that will remain. It will be interesting to see how the final part of the year plays out.

As we continue to focus on the handicap contests for each meeting we will also 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 these results here we simply record to SP returns.

We will keep up with our occasional lay opportunities of short priced favourites too, we were successful with our last selection, another beaten favourite, and we will see if there is another selection for tonight. Naturally we will keep these results separately from the handicap figures. 

This Wednesday is our twenty fourth meeting for 2017 and we are expecting an eight race card tonight with five handicaps to enjoy, tonight's action will commence at 17:45 with a 6f Claimer. 

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

The going on the polytrack surface is described as 'standard' and the current weather forecast is for a cloudy day with a chance of some rain and chilly, expecting a max temperature of about 15C when the meeting gets underway.

With the division of the mile handicap we've an eight race card and here are our selections for this evenings five handicaps tonight;

18:45 -- 7f Handicap.
A tricky handicap to get us going tonight and the 4yo Gelding MEDICEAN EL DIABLO [2nd 8/1] is of interest having won here last year and also at Chelmsford and would appear to come to hand later in the year, only had two runs this season priced about 10/1 so considered as a win/place option. 

Another at a decent price of 25/1 is the 3yo gelding DARING GUEST [WON 11/1] from the George Margarson stable. This one has already won twice in similar grade at Yarmouth and Lingfield and although taking on older horses this is hardly a big leap. 

19:45 -- 1m 7f 218y Handicap (3yo).
This is a race for the stayers, and although only eight declared for it there is plenty of interest and we hope that all eight stand their ground for the place bet. Gary Moore brings up his 3yo SUSSEX RANGER [3rd 3/1] who's had a few runs and placings around here already and seems to appreciate being stepped up in trip as he gains experience.

Sir Mark Prescott should never be ignored and his VEILED SECRET [5th 7/1] is worth another chance even though failed at Goodwood last time.

20:15 -- 1m Handicap (Div One).
The mile handicap has been divided into two divisions and the first of these has 14 runners but not many with winning form so this is going to be difficult to pick. Speculative bet on D'WATERSIDE [5th 25/1] as this lightly raced 3yo Gelding has improved for the step into handicapping and with Jose Gordon in the saddle and getting weight all round this 25/1 shot is worth a look.

Also at a big price is CAPTAIN PUGWASH [6th 8/1], ran well to be runner up in a couple of handicaps before finding the step in grade too much last time out.

20:45 -- 1m Handicap (Div Two).

The second division of this contest doesn't look any easier and another 14 are presented to go to post here, we pick TRUE COLOURS [3rd 14/1] and SLOW TO HAND [5th 9/4F] as our pair against the field. Both hail from big yards, and while the former is running in his first handicap the latter has won a handicap.

21:15 -- 1m 3f 219y Handicap (3yo).

Our finale sees a field of 13 declared and of those we've several previous winners too. AMERICAN HISTORY [6th 14/1] won last time out at Brighton but has also been placed on a few occasions including the all weather so should be close while in a good mood. Likewise JUST IN TIME [WON 13/8F] another previous winner at Goodwood and runner up at Leicester comes here in top form and was staying on last time so probably no fluke.

Staked -- 10 points.

Returns -- 14.625 points. 

Results will appear later tonight. Currently we have a deficit of -30.045 points that we bring forward to this round of racing. Winner in our first and final handicaps tonight gives us a winning night and knocks off a few points from our losses to take over to the next meeting. 

Now showing as -25.42 points down. 

LAYS -- After last week's successful lay of another favourite we now stand at 10 from 15 successful lays for this season, just 5 wrong all at short odds. 

One for tonight in the 19:15 -- ROMINA [Won 11/4 bugger].

Our next meeting here at Kempton Park will be in a couple of weeks on Wednesday 27th September.

NEW NFL SEASON KICKS OFF THIS WEEK.

The 2017 NFL season, the 98th season in the history of the National Football League (NFL), will begin on September 7, 2017, with the defending Super Bowl champion, New England Patriots hosting the Kansas City Chiefs. The season will conclude with 'Super Bowl LII', the league's championship game, on February 4, 2018, which will take place at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

While many don't understand this sport I've been a big fan since it was first shown regularly on UK Tv (Channel 4) back in the 80s. Can even remember the theme tune ... but I digress, having also been to see games live if you take time to watch the different plays each player has a role and in that respect has similarities to Rugby but of course people just moan about the amount of protection being worn. Hey if you had a 300lb tackle hitting you at speed you soon be reaching for the shoulder pads too. Anyway on with the season, sure helps the weekends and I just wish it was back on one of the UK Free channels as we don't all subscribe to Sky. 

Here are the opening Week One fixtures 
(the away team is named first as is the tradition in most USA Sports);

Friday, 8 September
Patriots   27 01:30 Chiefs    42	The Chiefs stun the Patriots with a 42- 27 win in the opening game of the season.
Sunday, 10 September
Bills 18:00 Jets	Texans 18:00 Jaguars
Browns 18:00 Steelers	Lions 18:00 Cardinals
Dolphins 18:00 Buccaneers	Bears 18:00 Falcons
Titans 18:00 Raiders	Bengals 18:00 Ravens
Redskins 18:00 Eagles	Rams 21:05 Colts
49ers 21:25 Panthers	Packers 21:25 Seahawks
Monday, 11 September
Cowboys 01:30 Giants
Tuesday, 12 September
Vikings 00:10 Saints	Broncos 03:20 Chargers

All times are in United Kingdom Time

NFL International Series 2017

This series has been a huge success over the past few years and with live TV coverage and packed stadiums can surely only continue to grow the sport further in the UK. There is already plenty of talk about the potential for a UK Franchise of our own in the NFL and until then we'll enjoy these games now hosted by Wembley and Twickenham. 

There are four fixtures this year in UK which have been confirmed as follows;


Wembley Stadium
Sunday 24 September 2017
Baltimore Ravens @ Jacksonville Jaguars 
Sunday 1 October 2017
New Orleans Saints @ Miami Dolphins


Twickenham Stadium
Sunday 22 October 2017
Arizona Cardinals @ Los Angeles Rams
Sunday 29 October 2017
Minnesota Vikings @ Cleveland Browns