KEMPTON PARK BOXING DAY KING GEORGE MEETING

SATURDAY 26th DECEMBER 2015

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Here we are towards the end of the year, our flat year here is done and we now enjoy the big NH Boxing Day meeting at Kempton Park with the feature event the King George Chase. 

Will Cue Card be able to win another big race this year having appeared to fail to stay behind Silviniaco Conti in last years renewal, does seem to be a different animal this year though. 

It's a 6 race card on Saturday, plenty of quality events leading up to the King George VI itself at 3:10pm. 

Here are our thoughts and selections for the rest of the card;

12:50 William Hill On Your Mobile Novices' Hurdle 
(4yo+, Class 2, 2m)

We kick off the Boxing day meeting with a decent novice hurdle, it will interesting to see how Willie Mullins runners are backed here and his representative OPEN EAGLE should be popular.

I go with the existing proven form of ALTIOR [WON 11/8] for Nicky Henderson but would expect another close finish with plenty of dangers from the likes of Meet The Legend and Simon Squirrel. 


13:25 William Hill Winter Festival Novices' Limited Handicap Chase (4yo+, Class 3, 2m 4f 110y)

A very open contest, the Moore team had been in great form recently so money for ANTONY would be interesting, as would support for the Twiston-Davies runner WEST WIZARD on his chase debut having won here over hurdles last time. 

I'll pass on both of them though and favour a couple of bigger priced contenders, BUCKHORN TIMOTHY / HOW ABOUT IT and with prices about 12/1 the pair we'll have them against the field. Fell and Pulled Up. 



14:00 Kauto Star Novices' Chase (In Memory Of Nigel Clark) -- Formerly The Feltham Novices' Chase 
(Grade 1) (4yo+, Class 1, 3m)

Just the 7 declared for the Grade 1 Feltham Novices Chase, and you won't often see Paul Nicholls and Willie Mullins having the outsiders in the field. 

But they do here on the forecast prices, with AS DE MEE for Nicholls and NET D'ECOSSE for Mullins both about 14/1 or more, at those prices in an open renewal of this event looks worth being on their side against the field. Fell and 5th

I doubt we'll see a Gold Cup horse as we did last season (Coneygree took this on route to Cheltenham success) but we should still have a good contest as usual. 


14:35 Williamhill.com Christmas Hurdle 
(Grade 1) (4yo+, Class 1, 2m)

Only the 5 declared for the major supporting race on King George Day, and Irish raider and current Champion Hurdler FAUGHEEN is the long odds on fav. 

Should be able to win this again, had THE NEW ONE way back when winning at Cheltenham and although that is likely to run well here will probably not be quite good enough. OLD GUARD might be best of the rest but is stepping up in grade again from G2 class and both HARGEM and SIGN OF A VICTORY don't look good enough unless the jolly falls.

A race to watch and enjoy more than be involved. 


15:10 William Hill King George VI Chase 
(Grade 1) (4yo+, Class 1, 3m)

The feature race now and a strong field as you would expect with most in with a shout of the crown. Last years victor SILVINIACO CONTI looks a big price considering he's a twice winner of the race, but comes into this on the back of a couple of beatings the latest being a 7L defeat by CUE CARD. 

CUE CARD is in much better form this season and could go better than he has in the past, but preference has to be for the Irish raiders. VAUTOUR looks a high class chaser and the only question is whether he stays the trip at the likely strong gallop we expect. 

So it's DON COSSACK we pick with his trainer very keen and believes he has a Gold Cup horse on his hands. 



15:45 William Hill World Darts Championship Handicap Hurdle (3yo+, Class 3, 2m 5f)

Our finale for this year is a handicap hurdle, has 16 declared and I guarantee at least one will drop out to spoil the 4 places here. 

I have a lucky pin and in the last it's picked me out two 25/1 shots so I might as well have the forecast which will help to pay for Xmas I guess.

It's found me DUBH EILE and CHURCH FIELD lurking at the bottom of the weights. 


Results should be available during the early evening I will be out watching Wimbledon play host to Bristol Rovers

Enjoy your Boxing Day and all the best for the end of the year for those of you disappointed that we didn't have a White Christmas here's what it would have looked like. 

We'll be back with a new season in January. 

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE

A brief note to wish everyone out there a very Merry Christmas, may you celebrate your year with your family and friends. 

One of the real joys of this time of year is the opportunity to say "Thank You" to friends and family and to wish you all the very best for the New Year!

May it bring you much love, health and happiness

See you next year!

KEMPTON PARK RACES WEDNESDAY 16th DECEMBER 2015

Down to the home stretch with the last Wednesday Evening meeting of this calendar year and it's been ups and downs and we do have a small loss to try and make up before we're done. Currently down -5.28 points on the entire year, and that's for a 1pt level stake to SP on all selections. 

Although this year has been covering the midweek flat action we will also be publishing articles on the Boxing Day meetings featuring the King George Chase and the Christmas Hurdle too. And then it's a short break and back again for another new start in the new year.
 
Our next meeting at the Sunbury venue takes place this Wednesday night and will begin at 16:05 with a 6f maiden. 

A link to tonight's race card can be found here;
http://www.sportinglife.com/racing/meeting/kempton-park/16-12-2015/fast-cards.

There are 8 races currently scheduled on the card and we will be covering the four handicaps at 18:10, 18:40, 19:10 and 19:40.

Here are our selections for the handicaps tonight;

18:10 -- 1m Handicap

The first of our handicaps tonight with a decent field over the mile, there's a case to be made for many of these and a number of course / distance winners too. 

I'll pick two against the field, LOYALTY [5th 10/1] and SHE LOVES YOU [6th 33/1] look well priced and value against the likes of the Godolphin pair for example.


18:40 -- 7f Fillies Handicap


Next up is a 7f race for the ladies, BE ROYALE [2nd 4/1] ridden by Robert Winston has a few wins to her name and shouldn't be far away in this grade. Will take her along with CAIUS COLLEGE GIRL [12th 16/1] who has had few runs, but a recent win bodes well and should be a reasonable price. 


19:10 -- 2m Handicap

The stayers event tonight has 10 declared, and first to cross out was Feb Thirtyfirst who clearly prefers Lingfield and looks too short a price here.

My fancy is the lightweight DELAGOA BAY [5th 7/1] who's getting a good stone in weight from most of these and has won around here over this trip.


19:40 -- 6f Handicap


Tonight's finale is a sprint event and will side with MAYMYO [7th 10/1] here who's consistent and never beaten far, so hopefully Luke Morris can guide him home.


Staked --  6 points


Returns -- Nil


No joy tonight which sadly brings an end to our flat campaign for 2015 down 11.28 points for the year. We will have one more meeting over the jumps on Boxing Day to cover.

The sun begins to set on another year...

ANOTHER DAY OF PEACE LOVE AND SADNESS

Another Saturday and another day down to the Crematorium to spend some peace and quiet with the old folks. 

I like to go fairly regularly as I find I can switch off from all my troubles and worries even for a short while at least. 

Yeah it can be sad, though I've always felt it better to get these emotions out of you and then free up some space for the happiness to breathe.

It worked again today, although it's looking very bare during Autumn and Winter there's still a few Roses in bloom. Also it's nice to compare the seasons so have compiled a single photo album on Facebook to capture all my pictures.

A few pictures here from today though, bit bare, but the spring will have it back in full bloom and that's a really lovely site when I come here, especially the Roses which you can see above.

I'll be back ... as the saying goes. Almost certainly over Xmas to pay my respects, before then am attending an annual event which is a Memorial service at St Lawrence's Church in Feltham organised by Lodge Bros. Very moving event usually and some nice songs and carols. Even though I can't sing, but I'll have a bash...

Merry Xmas
Enjoy the time with your nearest and dearest. 

KEMPTON PARK RACES WEDNESDAY 9th DECEMBER 2015

Down to the home stretch with the last few meetings of this calendar year and it's been ups and downs and we do have a small loss to try and make up before we're done. Currently down -3.28 points on the entire year, and that's for a 1pt level stake to SP on all selections. 

Our next meeting at the Sunbury venue takes place this Wednesday night and will begin at 16:05 with a 1m maiden. 

A link to tonight's race card can be found here;
http://www.sportinglife.com/racing/meeting/kempton-park/09-12-2015/fast-cards.

There are 8 races scheduled on the card and we will be covering the three handicaps at 18:40, 19:10, and 19:40.

Here are our selections for the handicaps tonight;

18:40 -- 2m Handicap
Our handicaps begin with a stayers event over two miles, with eleven going to post it would seem wide open but I'm on DUCHESS OF MARMITE [WON 2/1] who did us a good turn winning here a month back and followed that up with a second at Wolves and another win at Chelmsford. 

Clearly thriving on the all weather for new trainer Richard Hughes and can score again.


19:10 -- 1m 3f Handicap
Decent field of fourteen for the 32Red Handicap, and with the Moore team flying over jumps of late it might pay to side with TOP DIKTAT [6th 7/1] and GAELIC SILVER [3rd 9/1] against the field tonight. 


19:40 -- 7f Handicap (3yo)
The finale for tonight is over 7f for three year olds only, we've a field of 12 many stepping up from maiden company and their handicap marks are hard to formulate when comparing form to one another. 

I'm taking two against the field here but it's a fair leap of faith that they can get the trip as well as overcome their opening marks, thus it's COMPARATIVE [4th 14/1] and MISU PETE [2nd 5/1]. The latter does at least have a win around this venue to his name and that should at least make him competitive.


Staked -- 5 points

Returns -- 3 points

A short winner, and a couple of places and near misses tonight but not bad even so a 2 point loss taking us to -5.28 points to our 1pt level stake at SP. 

FA CUP 2nd ROUND WEEKEND.

This weekend we see the 2nd round of the FA Cup with 20 ties taking place over the next few days. Tonight of course we start with the televised game on BBC TV which is SALFORD vs HARTLEPOOL. 

All the teams will be looking to progress and seek a money spinning tie in round three against one of the Premier League teams. But first things first they have to win.

Here is a summary of the matches;

Friday 4th December

Salford 1 - 1 Hartlepool [FT]


Saturday 5th December

Barnet 0 - 1 Newport [FT]
Chesterfield 1 - 1 Walsall [FT]
Leyton Orient 0 - 0 Scunthorpe [FT]
Millwall 1 - 2 Wycombe [FT]
Northampton 3 - 2 Northwich Victoria [FT]
Portsmouth 1 - 0 Accrington [FT]
Sheff Utd 1 - 0 Oldham [FT]
Stourbridge 0 - 2 Eastleigh [FT]
Yeovil 1 - 0 Stevenage [FT]

Sunday 6th December

Rochdale 0 - 1 Bury [FT]
Bradford 4 - 0 Chesham United [FT]
Cambridge Utd 1 - 3 Doncaster Rovers [FT]
Colchester 3 - 2 Altrincham [FT]
Dag & Red 1 - 1 Whitehawk [FT]
Exeter 2 - 0 Port Vale [FT]
Oxford Utd 1 - 0 Forest Green Rovers [FT]
Peterborough 2 - 0 Luton Town [FT]
Welling 0 - 5 Carlisle [FT]

Monday 7th December

Grimsby 0 - 0 Shrewsbury


The draw for the 3rd round will take place LIVE on BBC 2 on Monday 7th December at 7pm. 

KEMPTON PARK RACES WEDNESDAY 2nd DECEMBER 2015

Good evening all.
After a losing week last time out we move ever closer to the end of the year and we are still ahead (but only just) with a small loss figure of -1.78. The Jumps season is now well under way and the AW season will carry on with more races at Lingfield, Wolves, Chelmsford and of course here at Kempton. Newcastle should be added to that list during next year and we will see how that starts whenever it actually happens.

I am sure that the Kempton staff are looking ahead to their big meeting of the whole year on Boxing Day but the weekly bread and butter meetings are just as important.

If we can get this back to profit for the end of the year that'll be impressive enough for me whatever the final figure. We have been on the go nearly every week since January and being selective with our races too. In addition our results are to a level stake at SP, it's very likely that we've gone better than our final figure actually represents but never mind.

Anyway lets crack on with tonight and target a few more winners across this line once again....

A link to tonight's race card can be found here;
http://www.sportinglife.com/racing/meeting/kempton-park/02-12-2015/fast-cards

Tonight is another 8 race card, with the division of the 6f Maiden event, and we have four handicaps to ponder over once racing commences here at 16:05 with a 5f Handicap event and concludes at 19:40 with our final Handicap over 7f.

The going on the polytrack is Standard, and there is rain currently forecast during the day the cold weather is here so wrap up warm, take a hip flask, give a stranger a hug or whatever you need to do to keep warm.

Here we go with our selections for tonight's handicaps;

16:05 -- 5f Handicap
Our opening event over the minimum trip has 10 declared, the first to look at is PROMINNA who is looking for a hat trick but his last two wins have been at Nottingham and Bath so this track will be a new experience.

PERFECT WORDS won at Wolves last time but has never run here in 42 starts, so another to avoid, and I will be on FROZEN PRINCESS [10th 14/1] for Jamie Osborne who can ready his filly after a year off.


16:40 -- 5f Handicap
A similar event to the opening over the same trip albeit a couple of grades higher. Still got 10 runners, and its PEARL ACCLAIM [5th 7/1] that I am drawn too here.

Considerably down in class and is available at 20/1 which you don't often see for a Dandy Nicholls sprinter. A big win/place fancy tonight.


19:10 -- 1m 4f Handicap
A big field of 14 for this poor contest, a race where the 3yo's appear to be 5lb "better off" so will side with the likes of SILVER LINING [3rd 7/1] and ARTESANA [10th 14/1] against their elders, both seem to be a decent price too in a race that lacks strength in depth.


19:40 - 7f Handicap
The finale for tonight gives us another max field of 14, nothing really leaps out it's probably best to grab your pin and take a chance.

TRENDING [8th 9/2] did fairly well after a poor start and over a furlong less than last time (plus a more level break) could feature, has a low draw too which is good. I'll take that one plus AFKAR [WON 7/2] against the field and lets see if December can be kind to us.

Staked -- 6 points

Returns -- 4.5 points

Was down -1.78pts going into tonight, despite the winner in the last another small loss of 1.5 points takes us to -3.28 down for the year, only a few weeks left to go.

We'll return here next week on Wednesday 9th December.

The sun goes down ... thankfully the lights are on.

KEMPTON PARK RACES WEDNESDAY 25th NOVEMBER 2015

Good evening all.

After a losing week last time out we move ever closer to the end of the year and we are still ahead (but only just) with a small profit figure of +1.22 The Jumps season is now well under way and the AW season will carry on with more races at Lingfield, Wolves, Chelmsford and of course here at Kempton. Newcastle should be added to that list during next year and we will see how that starts whenever it actually happens

I am sure that the Kempton staff are looking ahead to their big meeting of the whole year on Boxing Day but the weekly bread and butter meetings are just as important.

If we can keep in front for the whole year that'll be impressive enough for me whatever the final figure. Anyway lets crack on with tonight and target a few more winners across this line once again....

A link to tonight's race card can be found here;
http://www.sportinglife.com/racing/meeting/kempton-park/25-11-2015/fast-cards

Tonight is an 8 race card, with the division of the 1m 2f Handicap we now have four 3 handicaps to ponder over, so we shall also take in the valuable Wild Flower Stakes a 1m 4f contest at 18:15 as well, a race worth over £20k to the winner.

Racing commences here at 16:15 with a 5f Maiden event and concludes at 19:15 with an Apprentice handicap over 1m.

The going on the polytrack is Standard, and there is rain currently forecast during the day the cold weather is here so wrap up warm, take a hip flask, give a stranger a hug or whatever you need to do to keep warm.

Here we go with our selections for tonight's handicaps;

16:45 -- 1m 2f Handicap Div 1

This event has been split into two divisions and the opening heat can go to PINK RIBBON who has won a couple of events at Lingfield in the past few months and having had a 6 week lay off could be good value to take another step forward here. [Result -- 2nd 15/2]

17:15 -- 1m 2f Handicap Div 2

The second division has 11 declared, a race where the fav seems to be SPRING DIXIE but I would want to lay a horse that has 5 seconds in a row to their name and was stone cold last when seen on the All Weather here.

CASTLE TALBOT doesn't have a lot of experience but should give a good account of themselves here for Richard Hughes. [Result -- 7th 5/2]

18:45 - 1m 4f Wild Flower Stakes

The valuable feature of tonight's card where 10 are declared and OSIPOVA [9th 9/1] can take full advantage of all the weight allowances she receives and record another win. 

The top weight FIRE FIGHTING [WON 4/1] should also give a good account, this is a slight downgrade and should be competitive despite top weight.

19:15 -- 6f Handicap

The spring handicap is up next, worth over 12k to the winner and of the twelve that line up I'll take INTRANSIGENT [2nd 7/1] along with HALLELUJAH [6th 8/1] against the field in an attempt to catch the winner.

19:45 - 1m Apprentice Handicap

Tonight's finale is a max field of 14 over the mile course, it's an apprentice race and "hand n heels" only so it does sometimes mean that form can be ignored, it's about how the jockey can coax the horse with the minimum of fuss. 

TSARGLAS [12th 20/1] won a similar event a few races ago and might be worth a look along with SUPA SEEKER [4th 14/1] but it's a race that could well be run several times over with completely different results.

Staked -- 8 points

Returns -- 5 points

One winner and a few places, but the overall balance is now into a loss for the first time in ages, not much but losing 3 points tonight means we take forward a -1.78pts loss to next weekend.

We'll return here next week on Wednesday 2nd December.

The sun goes down ... thankfully the lights are on.