AFC WIMBLEDON v BRADFORD CITY -- FINAL LEAGUE ONE FIXTURE 2018-19 SEASON 4th MAY

The last game of the League One season and the Dons travel up to Bradford City who are of course already relegated. The Dons are now sitting in 19th place, 49 points and 2 points / 2 places above the relegation places after a hard fought 2-1 win against Wycombe Wanderers last weekend. Avoid defeat and we should stay up, win and we certainly do, our goal difference is good now too and with Southend below us playing Sunderland you would think they'd be the ones in the most danger to drop should other results not go their way. 

Today is also a game that marks the anniversary of the Bradford Stadium fire in May 1985, we remember the 56 people who sadly lost their lives. 

Kick off for ALL the final games in League One this Saturday is at the later time of 17:30.  

Here are the key fixtures of the teams below us;
    Southend vs Sunderland (H)
    Plymouth vs Scunthorpe (H)
    Walsall vs Shrewsbury (A)

Plymouth playing Scunthorpe means if they draw they are both down and a win for either side will therefore be needed, Bradford are of course already down, but have started to play a bit and won last weekend away against Scunthorpe 3-2 having raced into a 3-0 lead so anyone thinking this is going to be easy is not thinking straight. It's their last home game they will want to show their fans what they can believe in next season in League Two. 

FORM GUIDE 
(Last 6 matches in the league, starting with most recent)
AFC Wimbledon -- WDDDDW
Bradford City -- WDLLLL







LAST TIME OUT
AFC Wimbledon 2  Wycombe W 1

Scunthorpe United 2  Bradford City 3




Updates and Team News;
Bradford's Nathaniel Knight-Percival will return to contention for the home game against AFC Wimbledon, having completed his two-game ban following his dismissal in the recent defeat at Coventry boss Gary Bowyer must decide whether to recall him for the final game. Winger Sean Scannell, fit again after a long-term back problem, played the full 90 minutes in last Saturday’s win at Scunthorpe while wearing a protective cast over a hand injury. Wimbledon are likely to be unchanged but should have Rod McDonald back in contention for the final game. Good luck to all the travelling Dons this weekend and please bring back the 3 points with you. 

Updates will be published with team news and more news as and when it comes through. Come on you Dons.

Line Ups (Confirmed);

AFC WIMBLEDON

Odds -- 21/20 (William Hill) 

Ramsdale (Gk),  Nightingale (c),  Thomas,  Hartigan,  Seddon,  Hanson,  Sibbick,  Kalambayi,  Pigott,   Wordsworth,  McLoughlin

Subs – McDonnel (Gk),  Watson,  Appiah,  Pinnock,  Connolly,  McDonald,  Folivi

BRADFORD CITY

Odds -- 11/4 (William Hill) 

Wilson (Gk),  Mellor,  O'Connor,  O'Connor,  Woods,  Devine,  Anderson,  O'Brien,  Wright (c),  Scannell,  Doyle

Subs –  O'Donnell (Gk),  Payne,  Miller,  Butterfield,  Colville,  Caddis,  Knight-Percival

H/T Score – 0 - 0

First Half Comment;

A minute's silence is observed for the victims of the Bradford Stadium Fire and we allow Bradford to get us underway for this final and vital league game. A cagey opening spell and games comes to life with a decent strike from Bradford saved by Aaron Ramsdale for the opening corner, need to settle the nerves but it's never easy when you support the Dons. 

Nothing to speak about in this half and really has a 0-0 look about it. Only a foul by Hanson who is lucky not to be booked for it. As it stands at half time the other results are going for us (only just) and we are outside of the drop zone on goal difference only. 

F/T Score – 0 - 0

Match Summary;

A dull 0-0 draw but it means the Dons stay up and mission impossible has been successful after all that time in the bottom four. What a job Wally Downes has done since February, when the Dons were 10 points from safety.

Bradford are down, joined by Scunthorpe, Walsall and Plymouth.

My Man of the Match – A Wordsworth.

Referee -- Our referee for this afternoon's big derby game will be Brett Huxtable, from Devon and has been on the EFL referee's list for seven years. Has taken charge of us once this season our 1-0 win at Southend United, so a repeat will be fine. Not adverse to showing the odd card or three, and will be assisted today by Darren Wilding and Paul Hobday. 

Attendance – 17,817. (inc about 2000 travelling Dons) 

Next match:
Hopefully in League One next season when the fixtures come out.  See you then.

PONTEFRACT HORSE RACING SYSTEM -- 2019 SEASON -- MEETING #3

PONTEFRACT SEASON 2019.

Welcome to our third meeting of the season on Wednesday 1st May. 

1st race 2.20pm, gates open from 12 noon.

Wednesday 1st May is a day when Pontefract traditionally looks to the future stars of racing, both human and equine. It’s the 30th Annual Northern Racing College Charity Day!

The race meeting is unique in the fact that the majority of the card sees races sponsored by different bookmakers who traditionally set aside their commercial rivalry on this day in order to encourage the grass roots and future of the sport.

The Northern Racing College, based just outside Doncaster, was set up in 1984 and provides a range of courses at all levels for people who are looking at the horse racing industry as a future career. It also offers those currently in the business the chance to develop their qualifications and skills.

The racing on the day casts an eye to future stars. The opening 2yo Novice Stakes, sponsored by EBF and William Hill is historically an informative event. The race was won a few years ago by the subsequent globetrotting superstar, Peniaphobia, a regular in Group 1 races in Hong Kong in recent years. Kevin Ryan took the race with Celebrity Dancer last year who himself looks to be pretty smart and went on to be placed in the valuable Goffs yearling sales race at York. In fact, Kevin Ryan could be a trainer to keep an eye out for on this day – he trained three winners on this day last year with Kings Full and Savannah Moon adding to his tally! 

The 3yo Maiden on the card also has a rich history – John Gosden’s Royal Ascot winner ‘Remote’ made his debut in this a few years ago while last year, Mark Johnston’s Making Miracles was just touched off before continuing rapid improvement throughout the season running in some of the most competitive long distance handicaps around at Royal Ascot and York. We’ll be on the lookout for another superstar to hit the Ponte turf this year.

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 only found a couple of winners and are sadly down by -14.125 points to SP going into meeting number three. 

The forecast going is now currently reported as 'Good to Firm, Good in places' the weather for Wednesday afternoon is for a generally cloudy day with some chance of showers but hopefully not too much rain to spoil the day we've a forecast maximum temperature around the 17C mark.

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

14:25 5f 3yds Novice Stakes (2yo).
(1) -- KIDDA  [WON 4/1].
(2) -- XCELENTE  [2nd 4/9].

15:00 1m 2f 5yds Maiden (3yo).
(1) -- SELINO  [2nd 14/1].
(2) -- DARWIN DREAM  [6th 6/1].

15:35 1m 2f 5yds Handicap.
(1) -- IDEAL CANDY  [2nd 2/1].
(2) -- RONNIE THE ROOSTER  [6th 20/1].

16:10 1m 6yds Handicap.
(1) -- ROYAL SHAHEEN  [6th 17/2].
(2) -- MOUNT ARARAT  [3rd 5/1].

16:45 6f Handicap.
(1) -- HIGHLY SPRUNG  [WON 4/1].

(2) -- ROUND THE ISLAND  [4th 9/2].

17:15 6f Handicap (3yo).

(1) -- LADY CALCARIA  [3rd 2/1].

(2) -- ASCOT DREAMER  [4th 5/1].

17:50 5f 3yds Apprentice Handicap..

(1) -- PEGGIE SUE  [WON 7/1].
(2) -- RICKYROADBOY  [2nd 10/1].
F/C £74.35

Staked -- 14 points.

Returns -- 18 points.

We started the 2019 season afresh, but sadly the first couple of meetings have seen a small loss of -14.125 so we will see if we can get that turned around this time. We will have to see how the journey this year goes, it can be a rough ride sometimes. Results will be updated during the evening as I am away at Ascot 'Gold Cup Trial' Meeting today for my 50th Birthday !

Picked up a small profit today, a nice forecast too in the process, and had a good day at Ascot too. Now a loss of -10.125 to go on to meeting four.

Our next meeting here will be the first evening one on Friday 24th May so we do hope to see you then.

ASCOT RACES TRIALS DAY - WEDNESDAY 1st MAY 2019. (Also my 50th Birthday Event)

A midweek day out to Ascot this week to celebrate another birthday, been coming here for many years now on this particular meeting although numbers have sadly dwindled recently, but to celebrate my advancing years we decamp to Ascot races for their midweek fixture featuring the Ascot Gold Cup trial the Group 3 Sagaro Stakes. Renamed Royal Ascot Trials Day for 2019, Ascot's first Flat meeting focuses on some of the key prep races ahead of the Royal Meeting in June. 

Today's race card is good quality for a midweek meeting albeit small fields as usual in the opening contests. The seven-race card will have an increased focus ahead of Royal Ascot with four specific trials on the card, led by the Group 3 Longines Sagaro Stakes, won in recent years both Colour Vision and Estimate on their way to Gold Cup glory at Royal Ascot. It also continues as part of the Wetherbys Hamilton Stayers' Million, won last year by Gold Cup champion Stradivarius. In addition to the Gold Cup trial we are delighted to have another Group three contest with the Pavilion Stakes (renamed as a Commenwealth Cup Trial) a 6f contest for 3yo's along with another listed event the Paradise Stakes over the mile (now a Queen Anne Stakes Trial). 

In recent years the fields have been small and although the opening two races have only attracted just a few runners in each the rest of the card is on a par compared to previous renewals. We will end the card with a pair of handicaps now so hopefully there will be some added interest and larger fields for this event which I hope will remain on the Wednesday in future and not moved to the Saturday.

Here's a link to the days racecard;
https://www.sportinglife.com/racing/fast-cards/71237/2019-05-01/ascot

The forecast going is described as Good to firm, Good in places. There is a bit of a chill in the air and possible forecast for a drop of rain in the afternoon however we will have a fun day out come what may, it's the nearest local meeting to my birthday and always better than being at work.
 
Here are my selections for this afternoons meeting;

2.15 - 5f Conditions Stakes (2yo) 
Our midweek event gets underway with a five furlong sprint for two year olds and we are disappointing by the small field of only 6 runners though not that surprised as this is regularly the case and often a short price favourite results, as I recall though last year the 1/7F [The Irish Rover] was last of four and we found the winner [Getchagetchagetcha] so will be nice if we can repeat that again. 

Wesley Ward is sending raiders over from the States again and his entry here LADY PAULINE an odds on winner of her only start at Keeneland and might be hard to catch. Both Zulu Zander and Ventura Rebel have also won while newcomer to note from the Richard Hannon yard ENDOWED is usually worth taking a good interest in as this was a race the family used to win regularly with a nice 2yo.

Result -- 1st (VENTURA REBEL 20/1).
 
2.50 - 1m Conditions Stakes (3yo Fillies)
This race has a good turnout for a change with ten declared this time all 3yo fillies in the line up where Richard Hannon has three entries (Aim Power, Ajrar and Quick) the first of these ridden by Ryan Moore and looks overpriced at 20/1 here. 

QUEEN POWER represents the powerful Sir Michael Stoute yard and his early runners should be noted, she won her only 2yo start at Newmarket and should prove a 3yo to follow. 

Bottom one Model Guest has the most experience and possibly some of the better overall form but is still a maiden and exposed but should well for connections and not out of this, personally I'm with the Hannon trio. 

Result -- 1st (MUCHLY 9/1). 

3.25 - 2m Sagaro Stakes (Group 3)
For a Group 3 expected a few more runners for this our feature race, with just seven stayers being declared it's also not helping any each way or placepot entries. Headed by RAYMOND TUSK a winner in Italy and also ran a fair race in the St Leger last year, seems likely to stay but could find this a bit early. 

Runner up in the St Leger was WEEKENDER and he'll be very popular with Frankie Dettori riding, should be staying on at the finish and is likely to find last years Derby runner up DEE EX BEE who might improve a bit more for the additional trip and with a yard that does very well with these stayers.

Result -- 1st (DEE EX BEE 11/8F). 

3.55 - 6f Pavilion Stakes (3yo) (Group 3)
Another field of seven for our next Group 3 race and are headed by CALYX who seems likely to be a warm order for this and another for the John Gosden / Frankie Dettori team who have missed the 2000 Guineas for this instead so sprinting seems to be his route this season. 

It's almost any price you like the rest and with only one other place available assuming the favourite wins limits our selection options, POCKET DYNAMO is a good sprinter and might able to spring a surprise with fitness assured. 

Result -- 1st (CAYLX 1/3F). 

4.25 - 1m Paradise Stakes (Listed)
At last a field of eight declared for the listed event over the mile, we hope they all stand their ground on the day, if BARNEY ROY comes back to anything like his 2017 form he's going to be hard to catch, but having a year off the track might make him vulnerable first time back, so am drawn to the first of two Al-Maktoum runners WADILSAFA a son of the mighty Frankel and winner at both York and Sandown last year. Their other runner TABARRAK is no slouch either and they should both be thereabouts but preference for the Owen Burrows runner. 

Result -- 1st (ZAAKI 9/1). 


5.00 - 5f Handicap
This year they have added in an additional handicap event to create a seven race card, it's a five furlong sprint with a field of thirteen declared and opening forecast is about 6/1 the field. Wide open as suggested by the betting but we take the pair of ICONIC KNIGHT and BURFORD BROWN against the field for the win bet as both raced well during the last season only fading towards the end of the year, the latter has had a race to blow away the cobwebs and they can be expected to run well this year. The consistent SOMETHING LUCKY would also have to enter calculations but looks a safer place bet. 

Result -- 1st (BURFORD BROWN 10/1). 


5.35 - 1m Apprentice Handicap
Easily the biggest field of the meeting as always and 20 here for the finale, all apprentices, often hard to know what form they will be in and not usually a race I make a point of betting in. Top weight ISOMER from Andrew Balding have had winners of this in the past and is a course and distance winner too, Joshua Bryan is a good apprentice too so 20/1 is an each way option. 

MERCHANT OF VENICE seems to be the popular choice, but in a race of this nature looks too short for me, maybe just chance a big price one with light weight, that brings in the pair of AMBIENT and FIRST LINK but it's a race to just watch, enjoy, finish your drinks and head for the pub.

Result -- 1st (ENIGMATIC 14/1). 

Good luck today.

Results will appear here during Wednesday evening, if I'm sober enough to update things then. Please check out the Pontefract blog too which is also taking place today.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME !! 

(It was yesterday, so here we are now 50 years young and counting).