KEMPTON PARK HORSE RACING 2021 - MEETING #15 WEDNESDAY 9th JUNE

Welcome to Kempton Park racecourse a season of evening meetings following the events on a Wednesday night on the all weather flat track under the lights. We will continue blogging throughout 2021 till the end of the year. Started well this season pleasantly still ahead as we reach the month of June. Bit of a lull elsewhere for me, waiting to hear about friendlies and new signings for AFC Wimbledon as we build towards a new season with fans in attendance at the new Plough Lane stadium. The Epsom Oaks / Derby took place last weekend won by Snowfall (Frankie Dettori) and Adayar (Adam Kirby) respectively, and then this coming Friday the delayed European Championship begins when Italy play Turkey in Rome.

Returning to the horse racing all results here are reported to 1pt at Starting Prices (SP) we will be keeping a rolling record of profit/loss all the way through from January till the Boxing Day 'King George' fixture in December. A successful opening first half of the year during 2021 means we arrive here with a +13.055 profit and will continue to keep a record to SP throughout the season.

Throughout the year we will keep up with our occasional lay opportunities of anticipated short priced favourites too. Naturally we will keep these results separately from the handicap figures we had been fairly successful with our selections throughout last year managed to get plenty of favourites beat so we finished on 33/49 (67.34%). We reset the counters for 2021 and will be continuing this throughout the year again. Currently standing at 16/21 (76%) after the latest meeting and we shall see how things progress during the year ahead. 

This week will be our fifteenth Wednesday evening meeting of the year and gladly this week we have begun to see the return to spectators on the racecourse not just the few owners. Tonight's meeting we shall now be expecting a seven race card with six handicaps for us to review. Our action will now commence at 17:30 with a mile apprentice handicap event, then we should end the card around about 20:30 with our final handicap event over just under two miles. 

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

Going and Weather -- The going on the polytrack surface is described as 'standard to slow' and the current weather forecast for this Wednesday is for a somewhat warm and balmy afternoon and early evening with regular showers in the forecast but a higher temperature of around 24C tonight - hopefully by the time the next meeting arrives it will begin to stay dry for the spectators who will now be in attendance.

Here are our handicap selections for tonight;

17:30  Unibet New Instant Roulette Apprentice Handicap
1m  [Class 5  14 runners]

The opening handicap for us this evening is for Apprentice jockey's and while it won't take much to be successful tonight we will side with the pair of PROCLAIMER [9th @17/2] [Miss J Camacho] along with ALEZAN [4th @8/1] [Eve Johnson Houghton] against the field in a quiet start to the meeting.
Winner - (1) Conscious @11/1 [Harry Burns]

18:30  Unibet Extra Place Offers Every Day Handicap (3yo)
6f  [Class 4  9 runners]

GREAT NEWS [Non Runner] is a twice raced runner from the Godolphin ownership, unraced as a 2yo he came out and won at Salisbury on debut then unplaced at Newmarket, that was over a mile so the return to 6f should see a better level of form with Oisin Murphy in charge. AHLAWI [3rd @11/4f] had a couple of good runs on the all weather (runner up here) winning at Chelmsford towards the end of last year. 3yo debut wasn't great at Yarmouth but was sent off favourite for that and maybe better is expected back on this surface, James Doyle rides.
Winner - (2) Dream Composer @15/2 [Laura Pearson].

19:00  Unibet 3 Uniboosts A Day Fillies' Handicap

6f  [Class 4  5 runners]

Just a field of five fillies the stand out selection would be ARABIC CHARM [2nd @evens] the Godolphin runner has a 5lb penalty for  her latest success at Brighton. ICE STATION ZEBRA [WON @11/4] is now a 4yo and was successful on the Southwell a/w surface last time out, looks the danger to the likely favourite tonight in a small race as long as she doesn't need the run, though she ought to come on for it, hopefully the race is run at a reasonable pace.
Winner - (2) Ice Station Zebra @11/4 [Rob Hornby].

19:30  Try Our New Price Boosts At Unibet Handicap

7f  [Class 4  9 runners]

An improving type during last year GAVI DI GAVI [7th @15/2] is partnered by regular jockey Georgia King who can try and get back into the winners enclosure. QUICK BREATH [WON @4/1] is back on their last winning mark and should prefer this to the Ascot race they last contested which was on soft ground. Both can be backed around 10/1+ and will also have a little on the latter named in the place market too.
Winner - (7) Quick Breath @4/1 [Tyler Saunders].

20:00  Unibet Casino Deposit 10 Get 40 Bonus Handicap

1m 2f 219y  [Class 6  14 runners]

A good third here over this trip in September last year then went onto win over further at Wolves and if ready to roll after a six month break ON THE RIGHT TRACK [6th @11/1] could be an attractive price. MR ZEE [2nd @6/1] course winner here in January and showed some flexibility for switch to turf to win at Leicester and one to consider off only a 3lb rise with current Champion jockey Oisin Murphy a positive booking tonight.

Winner - .

20:30  racingtv.com Handicap

1m 7f 218y  [Class 6  14 runners]

We will end the meeting tonight with race for the stayers, not the greatest quality on show but something will be victorious and the natural one to begin with would be SCUDAMORE [3rd @11/8f] who has come alive for the step up in trip this season winning two from three so far and races with a 5lb penalty for his Chelmsford win. LIVA [2nd @9/1] won here last time and tries the extra distance now only up 4lb and well worth another chance at this trip now that he's tumbled down the handicap.
Winner - (7) Highway One @20/1 [P Cosgrove].

Staked -- 12 points.       Returns -- 9.75 points.
Results will appear here later during Wednesday evening. All results are accurate and recorded to SP returns to a 1pt win stake only and updated each meeting. Our winning start to 2021 has stalled a little of late however these first few months have proved to be successful even with the last meeting being a losing one our overall profit stands at +13.055 pts after meeting #14. A few winner together with a few near misses, sadly losing -2.25 points on the evening but remaining in profit after meeting #15 +10.805 points to carry over. 

Lays -- 16/21 We had a good season last year again with the lays, aiming at favourites and not afraid to take on short odds on shots too. The plan will be for at least one or two each meeting and we will keep those results separate from the handicaps. Sadly picked a very short one tonight. 16/22.

Tonight's Lays;

18:00 - Moshaawer [1m 2f+ 3yo Novice Stakes].  Won 1/4f

The next midweek floodlit meeting here will be held on Wednesday 23rd June so keep well and hopefully we can have a successful 2021.

🏇 PONTEFRACT HORSE RACING SYSTEM -- 2021 SEASON -- MEETING #5 7th JUNE

   

PONTEFRACT SEASON 2021.

Welcome to our fifth meeting of the 2021 season taking place on Monday 7th June. 

1st race 5.45pm.
Going: Good to firm [Good in places] 

Tickets are now being sold for future events and selling quickly, it will be nice to see a big attendance at courses around the country for the summer. Under the current ‘roadmap’, the racing here will see (limited) numbers of spectators returning to Pontefract for the evening meeting on Monday 7th June. For as long as social distancing remains in place, however, the ‘normal’ raceday remains some way in the future. With all ‘essential workers’ (BHA and Racecourse officials, stable staff, trainers, jockeys etc) having to undergo health screening before each raceday, and then having to be kept at least 2m away from Owners and (when admitted) other racegoers, these restrictions effectively rule out any use of the Main Stand, and parts of the Second Stand, by the general public. Indeed two of the Dining Rooms in the Main Stand have been transformed into changing areas for jockeys to ensure that they are able to maintain social distance.

The following is a quote from the official Pontefract Racing site 'As soon as restrictions allow, we will open up bookings for ALL enclosures in their usual format. however, this will not be until AFTER the 21st June at the earliest!'

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. After a good opening we have seen a few winners but suffered a small loss in the latest meeting resulting in a deficit of -9.38 points to carry onto this fifth meeting this afternoon.

Going / Weather: The forecast going is now currently reported as 'Good to firm [Good in places]' while the weather for Monday evening is for a generally cloudy day with some chance of showers but hopefully not too many. We are seeing a forecast maximum temperature around the 19C mark.
Here are our selections for the seven races taking place on Monday evening, remember it's a very simple selection process using stalls one and two in every race;

17:45  Northern Commercials Iveco & Fiat EBF Maiden Fillies' Stakes

6f  (Class 5  9 runners)
(1) -- No Nay Nicki  [WON @5/2f].
(2) -- Dark Tulip  [7th @7/2].

18:15  Father's Day Raceday On 20th June Handicap

6f  (Class 5  12 runners)

(1) -- Shackabooah  [2nd 6/1].

(2) -- Billyfairplay  [9th 40/1]. 

18:45  Northern Commercials Iveco 'S' Way Handicap
1m 4f 5y  (Class 2  5 runners)

(1) -- Brasca  [Non Runner].
(2) -- Furzig  [WON @3/1].

19:15  Racing On 6th July Handicap
5f 3y  (Class 5  10 runners)

(1) -- Ventura Express  [WON 5/4f].
(2) -- Young Tiger  5th 9/1.

19:45  Racing TV On Sky Channel 426 Handicap

1m 2f 5y  (Class 6  6 runners)

(1) -- Puckle  [WON 13/8f].

(2) -- Billy Roberts  [2nd 15/2].

20:15  Tony Bethell Memorial Handicap

2m 1f 27y  (Class 4  6 runners)

(1) -- Warranty  [4th 5/1].
(2) -- Flint Hill  [WON 6/4f].

20:45  Mr Wolf Sprint Handicap

6f  (Class 3  5 runners)

(1) -- Excel Power  [5th 5/2].

(2) -- Bergerac  [2nd 11/8f].

Staked -- 14 points.

Returns -- 15.875 points.
Having started the 2021 season afresh, we begun reasonably well and with a full season on the track we look forward to a successful year, alas the opening few fixtures will be behind closed doors. After the opening four meetings we are sadly -9.38 points behind coming into this fifth fixture, the results for today will be updated during the evening. So far so good with plenty of winners albeit not massive prices but a profit secured tonight nonetheless. Up +1.875 points tonight so the overall running total now stands at -7.505 points. 

The sixth fixture here will be held on Sunday 20th June so we do hope you will follow the action throughout the season.

EPSOM DERBY MEETING - SATURDAY 5th JUNE 2021

The Derby Festival (now sponsored by Cazoo) enters it's second day this Saturday with the 242nd running of the historic blue ribbon event The Derby. Delayed until July last year due to the pandemic it's great to see the races return to their traditional date in the calendar and also for there to be a limited attendance too. Not the 100k+ that we'd usually see descend upon the downs but it's a step forward. 

Today is the colt's turn and who will take the title from last years runaway winner Serpentine trained by Aiden O'Brien (right), and ridden by Emmet McNamara, who may well line up in Friday's Coronation Cup (wasn't declared sadly). There is a strong supporting card on both days, today will also see the renewal of the Group 3 Diomed Stakes [3:10pm] as well as the 5f Epsom Dash handicap while the feature race itself is due off at 4:30pm, live coverage will be on ITV channel in Uk. Epsom's five furlongs course, which is downhill until the last 100 yards, is reputed to be the fastest of its kind in the world, the current world record for five furlongs, 53.69 seconds, was set by Stone of Folca in this race in 2012.

Going / Weather
Going - Good to soft (Updated Saturday morning from Good)
Weather for Saturday is for another dry day and a maximum temperature of 22C. 

Here are our selections for today's card, our feature race is off at 4:30pm. 

14:00  Cazoo Handicap (3yo)
1m 2f 17y  [Class 2  8 runners]
Mark Johnston runs three here which clouds things a little though looks like King Frankel would be the pick of his, several of these step up in grade and PATIENTS DREAM was a winner here last time out and conditions will help again. An outsider of interest to me is ZHANG FEI and David Egan is riding well of late might be able to squeak a place at 20/1.
Winner - (9) Solent Gateway @28/1 [Hayley Turner].

14:35  Princess Elizabeth Stakes (Group 3)
1m 113y  [Class 1  8 runners]
First of the supporting group races, for fillies and mares, where we will side with the pair of MAAMORA (S&E Crisford) along with STATEMENT (M Meade). Maamora has already won a similar event last year at Sandown and has been racing in Dubai with some credit in group two company. While Statement stepped forward after winning her maiden to be runner up in the Fred Darling stakes at Newbury and a repeat of that level should see her get involved again.
Winner - (3) Parent's Prayer @4/1 [Oisin Murphy].

15:10  Cazoo Diomed Stakes (Group 3)
1m 113y  [Class 1  7 runners]
The next group three race could see a double for the Crisford yard with CENTURY DREAM back in class after competing in the group one Lockinge stakes at Newbury. Having won the Celebration Mile at Goodwood (group two) it was therefore no surprise to see him try the highest level. Sir Michael Stoute runs MAXIMAL [Non Runner] and it's around this time before Royal Ascot that the yard begins to thrive. Chased home a decent winner at Chester last time, this long straight should give him plenty of time to make a positive move.
Winner - (6) Oh This Is Us @18/1 [Tom Marquand].

15:45  'Dash' Handicap (Heritage Handicap)
5f  [Class 2  16 runners]
The huge field for the fastest 5f sprint in the country, twenty declared and this is a minefield. top weights Stone of Destiny and Exalted Angel will find it hard to give weight and are both drawn high, ORNATE is one of a few that have a good record here and despite the advancing years should go well from a low draw (6). BLUE DE VEGA is another with good experience here and would be interesting to see what the market says about his chances from stall 3. 

Outsider - The 12yo DUKE OF FIRENZE still has races in him even at this late stage in his career reminds me a lot of Borderlescott and at the bottom of this handicap priced  up 33/1 could place if the gaps come, is always played rather late, but at the price is worth a small risk.
Winner - (17) Mokaatil @25/1 [David Egan].

16:30  Cazoo Derby (Group 1)
1m 4f 6y  [Class 1  11 runners]
And at last we get to the big race of the weekend, the 3yo colts have their one and only chance of glory in The Derby. Twelve declared, surprised that this year Aiden O'Brien only has the sole runner (usually has 5, 6+) but it's the favourite BOLSHOI BALLET winner of the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial at Leopardstown, already very short in the ante post markets since that success and clearly the one to beat. His son Joseph has a runner too with SOUTHERN LIGHTS at 20/1 was only 6th in that race but was also just his 3rd run. Jim Bolger runs the Irish 2000 Guineas winner MAC SWINEY the question is whether he'll get the extra half mile around this unique track. 

The home challenge is led by Charlie Appleby who runs three in the Godolphin blue silks, ADAYAR [Adam Kirby] HURRICANE LANE [William Buick] ONE RULER [James Doyle] with Hurricane Lane perhaps the pick of the trio and the only unbeaten runner here. JOHN LEEPER has Frankie Dettori on board and is named after the trainers late father John Dunlop. Ed Dunlop's contender, bred as a son of Frankel out of the trainer's 2010 Oaks heroine Snow Fairy, named after his late father, himself a dual-Derby winning trainer with Shirley Heights in 1978 and Erhaab in 1994, would certainly be the most emotional story today if he is successful.
Winner - (1) Adayar @16/1 [Adam Kirby].

17:15  Northern Dancer Handicap
1m 4f 6y  [Class 2  10 runners]
A handicap over the Derby trip, AUSTRALIS should run better over this trip instead of recent efforts over two miles, has wins on the all weather during the winter season and if he can find some turf form on the fast going shouldn't be too far away. Going to have two against the field here so MIDNIGHTS LEGACY (WON 12/1) comes into our reckoning too Alan King's 4yo can show a similar form to his two wins over this trip at Haydock last summer, couple of recent runner up efforts makes him interesting again in a wide open race.
Winner - (5) Midnights Legacy @12/1 [William Buick].

17:50  Epsom Welcomes Cazoo Handicap
6f 3y  [Class 2  9 runners]
the finale is a decent six furlong sprint, a winner already at Kempton and Goodwood this season DESERT SAFARI looks a typical Mark Johnston improver were it'll be no surprise if he picks up another handicap or two along the way this term. Do also like EJTILAAB (WON 3/1) trained by Ian Williams ran well when runner up at Chester and steps back a furlong for this we'll pick that pair against the field.
Outsider - TINTO (A Perrett) sliding down the handicap and has a chance despite the long losing run, blinkers tried again and good chance of a place despite the no show in the Victoria handicap at Ascot last time (no chance with the draw).
Winner - (9) Ejtilaab @3/1 [David Egan].

Results from today's meeting will be update later throughout the afternoon. Have a great weekend.