KEMPTON PARK RACES 2016 -- WEDNESDAY NIGHTS #39 14th DECEMBER

May I take this opportunity to add in a short message of condolence following the recent news of the passing of Walter Swinburn. Known in racing as The Choirboy he will of course be forever remembered for his association with Shergar and their Derby victory in 1981, have a look at how he coasted home on YouTube, but the best race I remember him for was his third Derby win in 1995 on Lammtarra it was a thrilling race and a fitting tribute to his late trainer Alex Scott who had been murdered by one of his stable staff, a remarkable combination and much like the late Pat Eddery this boy was absolute class. 

RIP Wally, there's none like you now. 


Mid December now and the final month for 2016 will see us conclude our year long blog at Kempton Park on Boxing Day for the King George meeting which will be the only one we cover that is NOT on a Wednesday night. Feels appropriate to end on a big one though and to finish 2016 with a decent card albeit over the jumps. This issue is our 39th meeting of the season and we continue to keep ourselves in front. Add that to the success of the season long "lay bets" too which has been impressive given they are generally short price favourites.

The fact that all of our results are declared to SP I think it's clear we would be much further ahead to advanced prices. We crack on with our regular Wednesday nights at Kempton all the way through until the years end. The season has seen us ebb and flow, last week we failed to find a winner and thus had to suffer a small loss which has reduced our profit down to just +9.01 points. All being equal we can find some more winners and now continue through into the turn of the year.

As always our focus will be on the handicap contests for each meeting but will occasionally include a feature listed or conditions event too. Keeping records of our endeavours to a 1pt level stake at SP, naturally we will personally be looking to get better odds but for the purpose of the results we record to SP.

We will also keep up with our occasional lay opportunity of short priced favourites, we failed with our last LAY bets which isn't bad when most are short prices as a result we have a success rate of 17 from 22. Results for this will be kept separately too and hopefully we can remain at +77% for the rest of the year.

This week there's another eight race card on offer, we have only the four handicap contests to review and tonight's action will commence at 16:05 with a 6f Maiden contest. 

Here is a link to this weeks race card; 
EVENING RACE CARD

The going on the polytrack surface is described as Standard to slow and the current weather forecast is for a cold dry day with a max temperature of approx 9C when the meeting gets underway and remain cold during the evening so don't forget your hat, gloves and scarf.

Here are our selections for this evening's handicap races;

18:10 -- 1m Handicap.
A dozen declared for our first handicap of the evening, not great on quality though several have some wins behind them which helps, our first selection is FREIGHT TRAIN [12th 50/1] who has run well in slightly better events than this and if the absence is not an issue could go well at a price. 

Along with RUSSIAN REWARD [9th 9/2] who is usually thereabouts except when upped in class, can front run too.

18:40 -- 7f Fillies Handicap.
The ladies are up next and just the eight for us to view in this contest, both RIO'S CLIFFS and PALENVILLE have shown consistent place form but look a little one paced and are overlooked for the win tonight. 

We side with LUCYMAI [5th 15/2] who has been off for a while but does seem to run best fresh, has the assistance of Robert Winston and is priced about 10/1 which is of interest. Add that one with MISS BLONDELL [Non Runner] who is a course and distance winner drawn low and has the benefit of a low weight.

19:10 -- 6f Fillies Handicap.
A field of 11 ladies for us tonight, one I do want to side with is Jamie Osborne's CAMDORA [6th 6/1], a winner twice around Chelmsford does run well for Timmy Murphy and worth a chance around here. 

BE ROYALE [8th 9/4] went close for us before a few weeks ago and can be given another chance in an average contest.

19:40 -- 2m Handicap.
We conclude tonight with another stayers contest with a maximum field of 14 declared. Half the field are aged 7 or over and will be discarded in favour of something younger with a little more opportunity, though this is low grade stuff so some luck might be required too. 

HIORNE TOWER [Non Runner] could be one to keep an eye on, winner at Chelmsford and placed in few events around Lingfield, he along with the bottom weight OYSTER CARD [6th 4/1] might make most of the weight concession from the field although is still a maiden and therefore comes with some risk. 

Staked -- 8 points
Returns -- 2 points (N/Rs so far).

Results for tonight will be updated through the evening looking to add to the current overall profit figure +9.01.

Alas no joy tonight, couple of non runners meaning a loss of 6 points so we end the Wednesday nights on a +3.01 profit figure. We will reset things for the start of the 2017 calendar. 

Lays -- 17/22. 

This was the final Wednesday night meeting for 2016, but we WILL be back for more during 2017. However before we end there will be a one off special for the Boxing Day King George meeting on Monday 26th December.