PONTEFRACT HORSE RACING SYSTEM -- 2018 TURF SEASON -- PART EIGHT

PONTEFRACT SEASON 2018.

Tuesday 10th July.
Welcome to this our 8th meeting of the year. 

The Art of Racing Raceday (part 2) 
1st race 2.00pm, gates open at 12 noon

This is the second part of the two days dedicated to the Art of Racing Racedays in 2018. These racedays celebrate everything we know and love about The Sport of Kings! On BOTH DAYS we’ll be looking for 7 guest tipsters to each preview one of the races on the day. These previews will be published online and in the racecards on the day with our tipsters invited to the course to share their knowledge before each race.

There’ll be trips to the start of selected races so enthusiasts can see what happens in the calm of the open parkland down at the Start. We’ll also be running a commentary booth for people to have a go at commentating ‘behind the scenes’. Two days truly dedicated to The Art of Racing.

The action on Tuesday 10th July features the Listed Weatherbys Pipalong Stakes [15:00] With an impressive role of honour, this race has been won by such horses as Gifted Girl and Red Bloom! David O’Meara’s Lincoln Rocks took the honours in 2017 with Dawn of Hope beaten just a neck in second place!

A few winners last time out but still drop a small amount although retaining a profitable value into this fixture to the tune of +4.61 to Starting Prices so we can hopefully kick on from there today. We will continue throughout this season to record ALL results for these fixtures which are returned 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.

The forecast going is now currently reported as 'Good to firm' the weather for Tuesday afternoon is for a partly cloudy day with some showers due and a forecast maximum temperature around the 23C mark.

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

2:00 6f Nursery Handicap (2yo).
(1) -- OCTAVE  [WON 8/13F].
(2) -- SOLESMES  [Non Runner].

2:30 5f 3yds Handicap (3yo).
(1) -- PALMER  [4th 7/1].
(2) -- ZUMURUD  [WON 2/1F].

3:00 1m 6yds Fillies Listed Stakes.
(1) -- MARILYN  [5th 10/1].
(2) -- PROMISING RUN  [2nd 15/8F].

3:30 6f Handicap.
(1) -- DALTON  [4th 4/1].
(2) -- HUNTSMAN'S CLOSE  [Non Runner].

4:00 1m 2f 5yds Novice Stakes.
(1) -- SUBJECTIVITY  [6th 66/1].

(2) -- HERCULEAN  [WON 1/6F].

4:30 1m 6yds Handicap (3yo).
(1) -- ONE FLEW OVER  [6th 9/2].
(2) -- MEARING  [5th 3/1].

5:00 1m 2f 5yds Lady Apprentice Handicap.
(1) -- MILITARY MADAME  [6th 11/4].
(2) -- BROMANCE  [7th 33/1].

Staked -- 14 points.
Returns -- 7.78 Points

We come into this meeting with a profit figure of +4.61 points to SP. Results from today will be updated later on at the end of the meeting. Let's see if we can build on that break-thru. Alas not we lost out on -6.22 today, so a small loss to SP with -1.61 to take forward to meeting nine.

Our next meeting will be an evening fixture on Friday 20th July. Keep following us throughout the season.

ENGLAND WORLD CUP CAMPAIGN 2018 -- QUARTER FINALS VS SWEDEN

QUARTER FINAL STAGE
SATURDAY 7th JULY 2018
SWEDEN 0 vs 2 ENGLAND
[KICK OFF 7PM (BST)]
 --  Cosmos Arena, Samara

"Sven Goran Erikson, Bjorn Borg, ABBA, Ingrid Bergman, Dolph Lundgren, IKEA, Zlatan Ibrahimovic can you hear me Zlatan ? Your boys took one hell of a beating, a hell of a beating.     It's coming home ...."

England managed to make it through their first knockout stage World Cup match in twelve years beating Colombia 4-3 on penalties on Tuesday night, now their attention is on Sweden for a place in the Semi Finals. The Swedes should not be underestimated though and at least should play fair unlike the South Americans who are a massive bunch of cheats.

Sweden won their knockout tie 1-0 against Switzerland although a lucky deflected goal they are very well organised, hard to break down, attack quickly on the counter and although their talisman Zlatan Ibrahimovic is no longer present there is plenty of skill in the starting XI. 

England still rely on the goals of Harry Kane (6) as he chases the Golden Boot here, Jordan Pickford continues to impress in goal and the defence is strong. Wouldn't be at all surprised if this is a low scoring game, though should it go to penalties we have nothing to fear now having got that monkey off our backs against Colombia and both my heart and head say it's going to be an England win. It's Coming Home !!

Starting XI's confirmed;

SWEDEN
Olsen (GK),  Krafth,  Lindelöf,  Granqvist (c),  Augustinsson,  Claesson,  Larsson,  Ekdal,  Forsberg,  Berg,  Toivonen

Subs -- Johnsson (Gk),  Nordfeldt (Gk),  Olsson,  Guidetti,  Svensson,  Helander,  Hiljemark,  Jansson,  Rohdén,  Durmaz,  Thelin

ENGLAND

Pickford (Gk), Maguire, Stones, Walker, Henderson, Trippier, Lingard, Alli, Young, Sterling, Kane (c)

Subs -- Butland (Gk),  Pope (Gk),  Dier,  Alexander-Arnold,  Loftus-Cheek,  Rose,  Vardy,  Cahill,  Jones,  Welbeck,  Delph,  Rashford

Referee -- BJORN KUIPERS (NED).

Kuipers has been a FIFA-listed referee since 2006, a UEFA Elite official since 2009 and is regarded as one of Europe's best officials, with more than 250 Eredivisie games under his belt. He took charge of this year's Europa League final having officiated in the 2014 Champions League final and the 2013 Confederations Cup final. Away from football he has forged a multi-million-pound chain of supermarkets across the Netherlands called Jumbo. 

HT Score -- 0 - 1. (Maguire 30')

FT Result -- 0 - 2. (Maguire 30',  Alli 58')

Comment -- Sweden got us underway and the first quarter of an hour England do seem very nervous in possession making a lot of unforced errors and misplaced passes. Thankfully no damaged caused and Gareth Southgate can try to calm them down. Sweden seem to play for the 0-0 and take an age with every throw in and goal kick. They can't play for the draw now cos on the half hour mark a cracking corner was buried by Harry Maguire to give England the lead and everyone goes nuts, could have had more too if Sterling could just relax and get his shots away but lets keep it going till half time lads.

Jordan Pickford is the keeper of the tournament with not one but two excellent saves in between which Deli Alli scores to make it 2-0 England on the hour. It's all England and should be 3 or 4 so keep calm and come on England.

2018 KEMPTON PARK RACES -- WEDNESDAY NIGHTS #13 4th JULY

And all of a sudden it's July already and the heat is causing me uncomfortable sleepless nights. 😢 The 2018 World Cup is now into it's knockout rounds and as I write this England will be taking on Colombia (Tuesday night it's 1-1 after 90mins but we do the job on Pens yeah) all being well they can progress onto the quarter finals against Sweden and maybe beyond. (It's coming home folks). In the meantime this blog will continue to follow the progress of handicap races on the Wednesday night races here at Kempton Park racecourse in Surrey. We've not had the greatest first half of the year and are a bit behind now although it's a bit up and down this is half way and meeting thirteen. There are usually 4-5 handicap races covered and some Lay bets too with separate totals recorded to SP throughout the year. 

We are ready for week number thirteen, and as we head past the half way stage of the year we sadly find ourselves down -43.175 points to SP, would be nice to start turning this around and there is still a long way to go but if we had recorded results to the prices taken we'd be in a slightly better situation but we need some winners soon and alas we record to starting prices. 

As we continue to focus on the handicap contests for each Wednesday evening meeting we will also occasionally include a feature listed or conditions event too if one is 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.

We will keep up with our occasional lay opportunities of short priced favourites too. Naturally we will keep these results separately from the handicap figures, off to a disappointing start this season though but a successful lay last week means we are currently 8/14 going forwards with these for 2018. 

This Wednesday is meeting number thirteen for the 2018 season and we are expecting an eight race card tonight with six handicaps to enjoy the action will commence at 17:50 with an Apprentice Handicap over six furlongs.

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 for this Wednesday is for a warmer day so have a good night without the threat of rain for a change a top temperature will be about 28C by the time the meeting gets underway.

Here are our handicap selections for tonight;

17:50 -- 6f Apprentice Handicap.
the opening contest is for Apprentice jockeys and looks fairly open, we side with ASSASINATE [8th 12/1] from the Paul Cole yard, did miss last season and returned with a too bad to be true showing although almost certainly needed that comeback, should be fitter today and given a chance.  

Although something of a Chepstow specialist the likely 20/1 odds offered about KINGLAMI [5th 12/1] does appeal as he's experience of this track, and although at 9yo isn't not getting any younger did win last month and still more than capable in this grade.

19:20 -- 1m 3f 219yds Handicap.
AL HAMDANY [2nd 8/1] has been running in tougher races than this and although top weight here might have a chance at this level. LUSTROUS LIGHT [7th 33/1] also campaigned in higher grade company and good enough to run midfield at last year's Royal Ascot but certainly seems to have a good chance too.

19:50 -- 1m 7f 218yds Handicap.
ARAB MOON  [3rd 25/1] is a three time winner here and although trying a new trip could be interesting as seems likely to stay. The course and distance winner AGE OF WISDOM  [WON 33/1] is at least proven around here and David Probert an excellent booking by Gary Moore. 

Great result, big price winner and decent place too about time.

20:20 -- 1m Handicap (Div One).
MUDDAWAN  [12th 16/1]  //  ROBS DELIGHT  [10th 16/1]. 

20:50 -- 1m Handicap (Div Two).
DAYBREAK  [6th 16/1]  //  PRIVATE CASHIER  [4th 14/1]. 

21:20 -- 6f Handicap (3yo).
Our finale over the 6f trip has a field of ten declared and we side with the pair of SNAFFLED [7th 13/2] and SMOOTH SAILING [Non Runner] against the field. Top weight Snaffled has won twice this season and shouldn't have any issues with this surface, whereas Smooth Sailing won at the 3rd time of asking and this filly gets some weight as a result and her opening mark could be exploited.

Staked -- 12 points.
Returns -- 35 points.

Results will appear here later on Wednesday night. We seek to recover from our current deficit of -43.175 points. Nice result tonight and up 23 points which makes a big dent in the loss figure now down to -20.175 points.

LAYS -- 9/15 if we have one or two Lays tonight they will be updated here also.

Tonight's Lays;
Pennywhistle (18:20) lost 3rd.

Our next meeting here at Kempton Park will be on Wednesday 11th July so see you then.