SO THAT WAS 2014 .... HAPPY NEW YEAR FOR 2015

WAS GOING TO LIST THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE PAST YEAR, THE STAND OUT EVENTS BEING GERMANY'S WIN IN THE WORLD CUP (LANDING A NICE BIG COMPETITION WIN IN THE PROCESS) AND A TRIP TO PARIS FOR LAST YEARS ARC MEETING (FINDING THE 1-2-3 IN THE FEATURE RACE TOO)

THERE ARE MANY MORE BUT INSTEAD OF LOOKING BACKWARDS I'M JUST GOING TO WISH EVERYONE OUT THERE A WONDERFUL END OF THE YEAR AND LETS LOOK AHEAD TO ALL THAT 2015 HAS IN STORE FOR US ALL. 

AFC WIMBLEDON PLAYING LIVERPOOL IN THE THIRD ROUND OF THE CUP IS FIRST UP THEN MORE RACING, PONTEFRACT SEASON, CHELTENHAM AND AINTREE NH MEETINGS, THE RETURN OF THE FLAT SEASON AND A TRIP TO GALWAY AND WHO KNOWS WHAT ELSE...

HAPPY NEW YEAR

WOLVERHAMPTON SATURDAY EVENING FIXTURE - 27th DECEMBER 2014

It's the final Saturday fixture from Wolves for 2014 and we are looking at going out on a high this year. 

http://www.sportinglife.com/racing/meeting/wolverhampton/27-12-2014/fast-cards


Tonight has expanded to an 8 race card with the division of the 6f Handicap contest so we will begin with our first handicap contests will begin at 16:05 ;


16:05 - 5f 20yds Handicap - TELEGRAPH [4th 11/4]

16:40 - 5f 216yds Handicap [Div I] - SWEET PICCOLO [Non Runner].

17:10 - 5f 216yds Handicap [Div II] - JESSY MAE [9th 28/1].

18:40 - 1m 5f 194yds Handicap - NOLECCE [3rd 22/1].

19:10 - 1m 1f 103yds Handicap - OFF THE PULSE [4th 25/1].

19:40 - 7f 32yds Handicap - SAIRAAM [7th 28/1].

Time is short, family and all that, so have a great end of the year and we'll return in the New Year.

KEMPTON PARK - KING GEORGE DAY - FRIDAY 26th DECEMBER 2014

Since our regular flat racing features are disrupted by Christmas this week we will do a one off special over the jumps for the big Boxing Day meeting at Kempton Park. 

Used to attend the Sunbury venue in the days of Dessert Orchid and enjoyed the variety of seeing raiders from Ireland and France tackle the top chasers from these shores, it feels like a long time since we've seen a decent French challenge? M. Douman, M. Macaire where are you ... where are your modern day counterparts?

The meeting on Friday will get underway at 12:50, a 6 race card which will include the Feltham Novices Chase and the Christmas Hurdle as well as the big race itself which is scheduled for 15:10. The declarations for which will not be finalised until Christmas itself so my update for the card will appear here after the Queen's speech and the Bond film!!


Boxing Day Selections;


12:50 - 2m Novice Hurdle
Newcomer ZIP TOP to defy the top pair of JOLLYALLAN and SEMPRE MEDICI.


13:25 - 2m 4f Handicap Chase
An open handicap event and we will aim to have KATGORY and QUITE BY CHANCE as our pair against the field.


14:00 - 3m Novices Chase (Feltham Chase)
Shame there's only the 7 declared for this as WARDEN HILL looks overpriced at 25/1 for Mick Channon and AP McCoy, you won't see the champion jockey on too many long price horses like this. I expect the odds on fav Saphir du Rheu to be my lay of the day.


14:35 - 2m Hurdle (Christmas Hurdle)
Be surprised if Faugheen is turned over here though but maybe it's McCoy again on PURPLE BAY at 16/1 the value call.


15:10 - 3m King George VI Chase
There might be a decent field here but looking through the ten declared runners I can't see anything that will definitely stay 3m at a strong pace, EXCEPT for SILVINIACO CONTI. Last years winner too good for the likes of Cue Card, Wishful Thinking and Menorah though I can see the last named being placed.


15:45 - 2m 5f Handicap Hurdle
Can't complete a meeting without a winner from the Henderson yard and his THEINVAL looks a good option in the finale, has won here before goes up in trip and priced about 8/1 looks generous. Open race as you'd expect and maybe FOXTAIL HILL is a decent price win/place option for the Twiston-Davies yard.
Have a wonderful Christmas. 

KEMPTON PARK WEDNESDAY EVENING FIXTURE -- 17th DECEMBER 2014

Off we go to Kempton Park for our regular midweek racing fix, it's the last one before Xmas next week so lets pick the bookies pockets to pay for all that over indulgence we'll be doing;

http://www.sportinglife.com/racing/meeting/kempton-park/17-12-2014/fast-cards


Tonight sees a 7 race card beginning at 16:05 with a selling race and our first Handicap contest will get underway at 17:10. We have 4 Handicaps for us tonight so get your thermals on and don't forget your scarf n gloves this time.


17:10 7f Handicap -- HONEYMOON EXPRESS, has done nearly all her racing at Yarmouth, and has placed form there albeit last year, hopeful that the switch to an AW course and racing against her own kind will help but still a big outsider on paper. [Forecast odds 33/1]    [11th 50/1]

17:40 6f Handicap -- ITALIAN TOM, won here over 6f in summer, off 3lb higher so could be time to score again. Is a winner of 13 of his 82 races with a record that shows an overall PROFIT to level stake at SP of +38.28 -  so when he does win it's worth the wait. [Forecast odds 16/1]  [10th 20/1]

18:40 1m Handicap [3yo+] -- SENSIBLE WAY, just had the three races, won over 1m at Goodwood on second start, and only had one further race since then in June, off the same mark today the switch to AW plus the strong possibility that she's improved at home makes this a strong selection. 

Trained by Richard Hannon, could be the dark horse here, take best early price can see this one being well supported. [Forecast odds 14/1]   [4th 20/1]

19:10 2m Handicap [3yo+] -- NOOR AL HAYA, has been hurdling but back on the flat now, was successful for this 7lb claiming jockey [Charlotte Jenner] at Bath and placed several times for her too, so positive signs with the partnership rekindled again if taking to the AW surface [had a go here back in 2013, was blocked when making a run so given another chance]. Trip no problem. [Forecast odds 16/1]  [6th 14/1]

Results will go up later on Wednesday night. 

WOLVERHAMPTON SATURDAY EVENING FIXTURE - 13th DECEMBER

Looking ahead to our regular Saturday evening fixture at Wolverhampton and it should be the penultimate Saturday meeting from the track for 2014.

http://www.sportinglife.com/racing/meeting/wolverhampton/13-12-2014/fast-cards


Tonight has expanded to an 8 race card with the division of the 6f Handicap contest so we will begin with a 2yo maiden event over 5f at 17:45 and then the first of our 5 handicap contests will begin at 18:15. ;


18:15 - 5f 216yds Handicap - MONEY TEAM [3rd 17/2]

18:45 - 5f 216yds Handicap [Div I] - SENATOR BONG, [8th 33/1].

19:15 - 5f 216yds Handicap [Div II] - MEY BLOSSOM, [10th 33/1].

19:45 - 1m 1f 103yds Handicap - SPES NOSTRA, [2nd 8/1].

20:15 - 1m 4f 50yds Handicap - , MERCHANT OF MEDICI, [7th 25/1].

Have a great weekend and we'll update the results from this evening on Sunday morning.

KEMPTON PARK WEDNESDAY EVENING FIXTURE -- WED 10th DECEMBER 2014

Brr it's another cold Wednesday again so wrap up warm and don't forget your hip flask as we pop off to Kempton Park for our regular midweek racing fix;

http://www.sportinglife.com/racing/meeting/kempton-park/10-12-2014/fast-cards


Tonight sees a 7 race card beginning at 15:40 with our first Handicap contest. There are only 3 Handicaps for us tonight as the card is dominated by maiden events.

Put your thermals on and don't forget your scarf n gloves.


15:40 7f Handicap [3yo only] -- NAVAJO DREAM, finished 4th in an apprentice event here last month, same jockey booked today and only beaten a length overall. Forecast odds 20/1 will give then another chance off bottom weight here. [7th 16/1]



18:20 1m 3f Handicap -- CHAPTER AND VERSE, winner at Leicester earlier in the campaign and tried over the AW at Wolves last time out staying on the take 4th. Is a big price for this, might be able to take the leap up in trip on a different type of AW surface, hence 33/1 forecast odds. [10th 50/1]


18:50 2m Handicap -- PURPLE SPECTRUM, finished 2nd at Newmarket on only try at this trip, and has won his maiden over 1m 2f before taking a race at Sandown over 1m 6f so 2m should be well within his compass. Stayed on strongly at the Esher track and going away to win by 3 1/2L is forecast to go off about 20/1 which seems generous though it's 6/1 the field so wide open event. [2nd 25/1]


Results will appear here on Wednesday evening, and our next meeting is on Saturday from Wolverhampton.

WOLVERHAMPTON SATURDAY EVENING FIXTURE - 6th DECEMBER

Looking ahead to the regular Saturday evening fixture at Wolverhampton.

http://www.sportinglife.com/racing/meeting/wolverhampton/06-12-2014/fast-cards


Tonight's 7 race card gets underway with our first handicap contest over 7f at 18:15. We have 4 handicaps to look through ;


18:15 - 7f 32yds Handicap - SPELLMAKER has the inside stall to help get a good position and a few bits of placed form [3rd at Bath last time] might be time to strike at forecast 20/1 odds worth a look at least to place. Non Runner

19:45 - 2m 119yds Handicap - DUKES DEN. Small field for the marathon handicap contest selection has done nearly all his racing on AW surfaces to date, going off big prices and now gets a chance in a handicap. WON 8/1

Yorkshireman definitely stays and will go off Fav, Royal Trooper will be a danger to him if getting the extra trip, but we'll go for the one at the bigger odds. 

20:15 - 1m 6f Handicap - COOL SKY is the pick in another small field but competitive staying handicap. Godolphin have the fav in Personal Opinion but I don't see many of there's going in multiple times over the winter usually one is enough. David Pipe has an interesting horse with Unaminite who has contested hurdle events at Cheltenham and Aintree so is highly thought off but was beaten at odds on at the latter venue. 

COOL SKY has 7 wins from 30 runs and an overall win profit of +11.75 to a level stake, the % call is with him with a good win/place strike rate too the 16/1 on offer would be even stronger if there weren't just the 7 runners. 4th 10/1

20:45 - 1m 1f Handicap - STEEL STOCKHOLDER this selection is based on an assumption that the change of jockey will bring about some level of improvement, has small bits and pieces of placed form from much higher in the weights and when last off this mark did win and place (albeit 2 years ago ... I did say it was only an assumption) WON 25/1

Well what a night, 2 great winners and one close miss, another 32+ points profit at SP and much better returns on the exchanges -- our next event is next Wednesday at Kempton Park. Hope you enjoying a great weekend.

KEMPTON PARK WEDNESDAY EVENING FIXTURE -- WED 3rd DECEMBER 2014

It's Wednesday again so quickly off we trot to Kempton Park for our regular midweek venue;


http://www.sportinglife.com/racing/meeting/kempton-park/03-12-2014/fast-cards


Sticking with the Handicaps tonight and it's a feast this week with the last 5 races all falling to our grasps, we've three to look at again across this eight race card which will get under-way with another maiden event at 3.50, our first handicap event is at 5.20 running through to the end of the card at 7.20. 

5.20 1m 4f (Div I) -- LITTLE RED NELL, lightly raced mare would have found the trip and track difficult at Brighton last time, been off 200+ days, has AW form albeit not exceptional. Hence the 40/1 forecast odds [9th 66/1]

5.50 1m 4f (Div II) -- GLOS LAST, forecast was about 20/1 but seems to be the market leader at 7/2? Too short for me in this thread, must have shown plenty at home to warrant that level of interest. [WON 15/8!!]

6.20 1m 3f -- TOP DIKTAT, winner of 4 in a row earlier in season it's likely the handicapper is in control now. But it's a small field and he has won over this trip though tailed off last time as if something amiss, can't have been injured if out again so soon. Given one more chance. Outsider of 6 at 20/1

6.50 7f -- MORNA'S GLORY, Only the three runs this year, has bits of better form when seen couple of seasons ago, leap of faith that she's still got some ability for new trainer, huge price 66/1 chance taken that AW helps rekindle an effort. [7th 100/1]

7.20 6f -- SWENDAB, beaten 10l on last outing here under same claiming jockey, faith in this veteran of 50+ races that was their 1st go on the AW for over a year and can pop up at decent odds (winner of 7 events, placed in 9 others so near 30% record of reaching the frame) 

Has been placed regularly off this sort of handicap mark so Forecast odds 40/1 are appealing while rated in the low 60's or less. [11th 33/1] Not our day today. 

Update again on Wednesday evening, have a good night and wrap up warm.