KEMPTON PARK BOXING DAY 'KING GEORGE VI' MEETING 2018

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO EVERYONE

The year feels like it's flown by once again and here we are looking at the end of December with our disappointing season on the flat already finished at Kempton so we return today over the jumps for one more big meeting. The annual Boxing Day NH meeting at Kempton Park will be our final event till next year comes around and it of course will feature the renewal of the King George VI Chase and supporting Grade 1 event the Christmas Hurdle.

Will MIGHT BITE be able to return to form and repeat his win of last year, will we see another superstar in the making and will the Irish trainers send over anything special to take on the home team or keep them safe across the Irish Sea and leave it till Cheltenham in March. I can remember when the best of the French chasers came over but that seems to have stopped now too. There are of course plenty of supporting events including the Kauto Star (Feltham) Novices Chase won last year by BLACK CORTON under the exceptional Bryony Frost and the Grade 1 Christmas Hurdle which was won by BUVEUR D'AIR before he went on to retain his Champion Hurdle crown.

We will have a six race card on Wednesday afternoon, plenty of quality events leading up to the King George VI itself at 3:05pm. The going is currently forecast as "Good to Soft, Good in places", and the weather should be fine for the time of year although a bit chilly so keep warm.

Here are our thoughts and selections for the rest of today's NH card;
12:50  32Red Casino Novices' Hurdle (Class 2) 
2m, 6 Runners

We kick off the Boxing day meeting with a decent novice hurdle, although just the six runners declared over the weekend we can some good competition with some big reputations being put on the line already and should be a wonderful opening contest. The top two of DIDTHEYLEAVEYOUOUTTO and THE BIG BITE have an impressive win ratio with four wins from five career starts each and their only defeat was the Champion Bumper at the festival in March. They should ensure a decent pace and will be hard to beat, if they are vulnerable to anything giving away 8lb to the rest it would probably be Nicky Henderson's MISTER FISHER [WON 7/2] who won on the AW here over 2m and will be well schooled by the champion trainer for sure.

13:20  32Red.com Chase (Novices' Limited Handicap) (Class 3) 
2m 4f 110y, 13 Runners.

Our first big field handicap chase has £14k to the winner and VIVAS heads the weights with a good recent run of three wins out of four, some of these in small fields around Plumpton and Fontwell so this is a significant step up really though going the right way over fences. Conceding weight to the likes of GLEN FORSA [WON 7/1] and AWAKE AT MIDNIGHT might be difficult and these two come here with wins in decent sized fields so the near stone in weight they get will make them very interesting in the betting. 

13:55  32Red Kauto Star Novices' Chase (Grade 1) (Class 1)
3m, 7 Runners

Formally known as the FELTHAM NOVICE CHASE this is now renamed as the Kauto Star Chase after the multiple King George and Gold Cup winner. Loses a little of it's charm for me personally as a traditionalist but never mind this year's renewal has a small field of just seven line up here, BAGS GROOVE has won his last three chases, but will probably have to concede to SANTINI here today a decent Grade One winning hurdler has taken to fences straight away with an opening success at Newbury and should be hard to beat. 

Paul Nicholls and Harry Cobden have been in great form on the big weekends so support for his TOPOFTHEGAME today would be interesting and this 150 rated hurdler should be looked at in future once he's had a bit more experience over the larger obstacles.

14:30  Unibet Christmas Hurdle (Grade 1) (Class 1)
2m, 5 Runners

Another Grade 1 but another small field with the Irish challenge remaining at home and not a lot of depth now in the Champion Hurdle events to be fair, so we have just the five runners with current Champion BUVEUR D'AIR a 1/5F to take this prize and move onto a defence of his crown in March. A race with no real attraction other than seeing this great horse cruise home safely. Global Citizen is the one for the forecast.

15:05  32Red King George VI Chase (Grade 1) (Class 1)
3m, 10 Runners

We have an exciting renewal for this years King George VI chase, a field of ten and 3 miles the trip, 18 fences to tackle and most of these have been here before with two former winners MIGHT BITE and THISTLECRACK returning too. Might Bite was not the force he was in his comeback run and while Thistlecrack and Coneygree ran with great credit after injuries it might be the turn of Gold Cup winner NATIVE RIVER to take this before being aimed at the Gold Cup defence later. 

Bristol De Mai was an easy winner at Newbury in the Betfair Chase but is never the same force going this way around and might be taken on for the lead which will make it an open contest. The interesting one on the upgrade is the 7yo WAITING PATIENTLY who has successfully won their five chases to date and though has to improve again to beat the Gold Cup class horses but could be the danger. 

Demonstrating the 'vintage' quality of this year's field, the 2017 runner Double Shuffle (40-1) and third-placed Tea For Two (50-1) are rated among the outsiders as is the 2015 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Coneygree (33-1) who ran well on his latest comeback and could go really well at a decent price.

15:40  32Red Download The App Handicap Hurdle (Class 3)
2m 5f,  14 Runners

Our finale is a handicap hurdle which has attracted the largest field of the day, fourteen go to post, headed by Ballyandy who will do well to get around carrying 12st 2lb today and conceding plenty of weight to the likes of Penn Lane and Erick Le Rouge. 

Interesting horse is WHO'S MY JOCKEY the correct answer today is Richard Johnson who rarely leaves this meeting without a winner. I would like to see the price of THE SWEENEY (forecast 16/1) who was staying on but not near to the winner when 3rd here last month, if I can get a place bet on that will be happy.

Hope you enjoying your Boxing Day and still have a bit of turkey left over, wish you 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.

Good start to the day with winners in the opening two contests, hopefully a sign of a change of fortunes. 

We'll be back with a new season on the flat in January 2019. 

WISHING YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS 2018 ...

So that's nearly it for another year, I want to send out some festive wishes to everyone, have a very Merry Christmas may you enjoy a wonderful time with family, friends and loved ones. Try not to argue, say hello to your neighbours ...  then eat, drink and ... well actually that'll do it for me. Personally I'll be having a nice quiet one at home alone, treating it as another "Sunday" so having a lovely long lazy day, do some dinner after the Queen has been on and then settle down with a fun film perhaps. 

I have bought myself a nice bottle of Highland Park Whisky, which was one Dad enjoyed, and so I shall be raising a glass to all those no longer with us, Mum, Dad, friends and family. Will have a look at the Kempton Park races for Boxing Day which includes the King George VI chase and there's a feast of football later this week, thankfully I am off till the new year so plenty of time to spare. Should try and meet up with a few people if I can. 

But for Christmas Day itself, before the eating and drinking gets out of control will just be putting on some music and enjoying the day at home alone. Will probably also get some of my Dads model trains out for a bit of a run on a test track I have. The important thing is to just rest, try not to worry about things, and enjoy the day. 

I hope you all can enjoy yourselves too.
Have a very Merry Christmas   Martin Xx 

AFC WIMBLEDON v CHARLTON ATHLETIC -- LEAGUE ONE 2018-19 SEASON 15th DECEMBER

This weekend the Dons will travel to Charlton Athletic in a league one London derby and its a first return for ex Dons forward Lyle Taylor who now leads the Addicks attack and has 12 goals this season. 

Having let Neal Ardley go the Dons have steadied the bad form a little bit but still remain six points from safety in 23rd place on 15 points, only Bradford City are below us. New Dons manager in situ is Wally Downes who saw his side come from a goal down to draw 1-1 against Rochdale in his first official game in charge with new assistant Glyn Hodges. Charlton arrive here after a win midweek against top of the table Portsmouth and prior to that had won four out of five in the league so find themselves currently sitting in 5th place in the table on 37 points they ought to be firm favourites under manager Lee Bowyer. 

FORM GUIDE 
(Last 6 matches in the league, starting with most recent)
AFC Wimbledon -- DLWLLL
Charlton Athletic -- WLWWWW





LAST TIME OUT

AFC Wimbledon 1 Rochdale 1

Portsmouth 1 Charlton Athletic 2






Updates will be published with team news and more news as and when it comes through. It's not considered as an all ticket match but not expecting this one to sell out by any means due to the poor run of form for the Dons should be little trouble getting tickets. Going to be very cold, maybe the action on the pitch will warm the crowd, hopefully we'll have James Hansen available after injury and attempt to deliver a better service up to the likes of Joe Pigott and Mitchell Pinnock? Lyle Taylor will start up front for Charlton and Hansen appears on the bench for us.

Line Ups (confirmed);

AFC WIMBLEDON

Odds -- 100/30 (William Hill) 

McDonnell (Gk)  Watson,  Nightingale (c),  Purrington,  Thomas,  Wagstaff _,  Hartigan,  Wordsworth,  Soares,  Pinnock _,  Barcham

Subs – King (Gk),  Sibbick,  Burey,  Kalambayi,  Trotter,  Hanson,  Jervis

CHARLTON ATHLETIC

Odds -- 4/5 (William Hill) 

Steer (Gk),  Solly (c),  Bauer,  Pearce,  Sarr _,  Reeves,  Bielik _,  Aribo,  Fosu-Henry,  Taylor _,  Ajose

Subs –  Phillips (Gk),  Dijksteel,  Marshall,  Morgan,  Stevenson,  Sarpeng-Wiredu,  Hackett-Fairchild

H/T Score – 0 - 0

First Half Comment;

OMG what a start, a straight red card for Charlton's Naby Sarr for a terrible foul on Tennai Watson after only 15 seconds and the Dons will have a whole game against 10 men to enjoy. Despite being a man down it's Charlton who make a lot of the opening chances with Lyle Taylor getting a few opportunities too. So far weathered the early storm against a very good inform side even if they have a man short. And then it happens, another sending off this time for Mitchell Pinnock to even it up 10 a piece he gets a second yellow for an apparent dive on 33 mins? 

I knew this ref would be a cause for concern but although we hanging on for a point as we head to half time it would still put us bottom now that Bradford are leading. 

F/T Score – 2 - 0

Match Summary;

The second half continued with Charlton on top but failing to hit the net, the Dons hoping to give their travelling fans something to cheer, the referee doing his best to annoy both sets of supporters. Then on the hour the expected goal comes, and Lyle Taylor of course scores for the home side against us a clinical finish that we are missing. Plenty more bookings and no real sign of a comeback, it's beginning to look bleak for Wimbledon this season and the coup de gras is from Mark Marshall who scores a second for the hosts with a couple of minutes to go.

My Man of the Match – Lyle Taylor (Charlton) ... doing the job we miss most, scoring the crucial opening goal. Gutted.

Referee -- Our referee for this afternoon's big derby game will be Mr Trevor Kettle a firm favourite with the Dons fans is our Trevor ... it's going to be even more of an uphill struggle lets hope he's got his specs on. 

Attendance – 10,691. (1,048 Dons fans)

Next match:
Saturday 22nd December vs Wycombe Wanderers (Away)
League One 3:00pm 

KEMPTON PARK RACES 2018 -- WEDNESDAY NIGHTS #25 12th DECEMBER

The evenings continue to draw in and get darker early, but the lights are on here always at Kempton on Wednesday.

Christmas is now less than two weeks away and at least the cards are sent and gifts bought ... but I do still hate Christmas. The appointment of Wally Downes as new AFC Wimbledon manager resulted in a 1-1 draw against Rochdale so we still a good six points away from the safety zone. We are ready for week number twenty five this is going to be the last Wednesday night flat meeting for 2018 with only the King George NH meeting on Boxing Day to follow. Has not been our finest year and we find ourselves down -70.22 points to SP, shame but that's how it goes when you record to starting prices.

As we continue to focus on the handicap contests for each Wednesday evening meeting we will also occasionally include a feature listed or conditions event too if one is available. Keeping records of our endeavours to a 1 point level stake at SP, naturally we will personally be looking to get better odds than this but for the purpose of these results here we simply record SP returns only.

We will keep up with our occasional lay opportunities of short priced favourites too. Naturally we will keep these results separately from the handicap figures, found a pair of losing selections last time therefore we moved onto a 66% rate 22/33 and as we come to the end of 2018 we at least keep accurate figures win or lose. 

This Wednesday is meeting number twenty five for the 2018 season and we are expecting an eight race card tonight with just the three handicaps this week we will also take in the 2yo Nursery event (16:15) for us to look through and enjoy the action which will commence at 15:40 with a six furlong novice contest.

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

The going on the polytrack surface is described as 'standard to slow' and the current weather forecast for this Wednesday is for a cold day with some cloud cover and a top temperature will only be about 7C by the time the meeting gets underway so please wrap up warm, take a hip flask too.

Here are our handicap selections for tonight;

16:15 -- 7f Nursery Handicap (2yo).
Our opening handicap is for 2yos and has a field of 14 headed by recent Southwell winner TIMES PAST. Might have it to do on this surface and with top weight but is resepected however we plan to take that on with the pair BLACK MEDICK [6th 12/1] (bit rude) from Richard Hannan's yard this filly was a big price runner up here in October so will be fine on the track. And we pair that with John Gosden's INTRICATE [4th 14/1] who hasn't set the world alight as yet but this filly is dropped in grade and has raced around here before so given another chance to show something.

18:15 -- 1m 2f 219y Handicap.
Eleven now for the next handicap on our card and while only SARYGHAGANN has the course and distance winning form that was last time out and looks bit too short in market for us. 

KING OF THE SAND [7th 8/1] has only had the one outing on the AW surface to date that was a midfield effort at Chelmsford but with bottom weight is selected with the Moore stable doing well on both flat and jumps. Pair that one with the filly  DORELLA [11th 16/1] who started off this time last year on the AW tracks here and at Wolves and a return to this venue might see some improvement.

18:45 -- 1m 7f 218y Handicap.
The stayers contests are always hard to rate as they might go no pace early and become a tactical sprint. The ten strong field is headed by MARQUISARD [2nd 10/1] a six year old a winner over hurdles, and second on a rare flat start at Goodwood so has to be considered even with top weight. CHAMPAGNE CHAMP [10th 5/1] hasn't been seen for a while but was rated in the 90s and has been busy is worth a punt if ready.

19:15 -- 7f Handicap.
Our finale for tonight (and indeed for our year here on the flat) has a max field of 14 and headed by the 9yo GOOD LUCK CHARM who is probably best followed at Brighton these days. 

Bottom weight VIOLA PARK [WON 11/4] is consistent here and a course distance winner so well worth a go off a mark of 52 having won off marks in the 60s before now. Handicap debutante KELLINGTON KITTY [14th 12/1] is a filly who might go better at this level for Rossa Ryan at a decent price too.

Staked -- 8 points.
Returns -- 3.75 points.

Results will appear here later on Wednesday night. Overall the losses are sadly increased to the current level of -70.22 points. Just one winner and that meant a loss of -4.25 tonight and that's back up to -74.47 for the season. Sad

LAYS -- 22/33 to date, beginning to get them beat regularly now, and if we have one or two Lays tonight they will be updated here also. Both lays lost which is nice, sends us to a season ending total of 24 from 35. 

Tonight's Lays;

16:45 - ALHAAZM [LOST 4th].

17:15 - FIGHTWITHME  [LOST 3rd].

This is our final flat meeting for this year but we will return on BOXING DAY for the courses big King George Chase NH Meeting on Wednesday 26th DECEMBER so hope to see you then and we'll be back during 2019 too.

KEMPTON PARK RACES 2018 -- WEDNESDAY NIGHTS #24 5th DECEMBER

The evenings continue to draw in and get darker early, but the lights are on here always at Kempton on Wednesday.

Christmas is looming large next month and will soon need to get them cards and gifts sorted ( I hate Christmas ). The football news is that we ended the eight game losing run in the league by beating Southend 2-1 but then lost the next one to high flying Peterborough. A win in the FA Cup on Saturday against FC Halifax 3-1 puts us into the draw on Monday for the 3rd round and hopefully a big name away ....  alas not we get Fleetwood Town and there is finally an official announcement about a replacement for Neal Ardley welcome back Wally Downes and Glyn Hodges. Now come back to our regular Wednesday nights and somewhat glad I can come back to this blog as we continue to follow the progress of handicap races on the Wednesday night races here at Kempton Park racecourse in Surrey. We've not had the greatest year to date sadly and are falling behind now although it's a bit up and down this is now into the last few months as we reach meeting number twenty four. There are usually 4-5 handicap races covered and some Lay bets too with separate totals recorded to SP throughout the year. 

We are ready for week number twenty four, and as we push on into the latter part of the year we need to find that winning habit again as we need to recover and take a dent out of the losses to date since we find ourselves down -71.72 points to SP, would be nice to continue turning this around and there is still a fair way to go we need some more winners soon and alas we record to starting prices.

As we continue to focus on the handicap contests for each Wednesday evening meeting we will also occasionally include a feature listed or conditions event too if one is available. Keeping records of our endeavours to a 1 point level stake at SP, naturally we will personally be looking to get better odds than this but for the purpose of these results here we simply record SP returns only.

We will keep up with our occasional lay opportunities of short priced favourites too. Naturally we will keep these results separately from the handicap figures, having a disappointing time with these of late keep on finding winners, this season though means we are currently 20/31 going forwards with these for 2018 and we at least keep accurate figures win or lose. 

This Wednesday is meeting number twenty four for the 2018 season and we are expecting an eight race card tonight with four handicaps and a Listed Contest (18:30) for us to look through and enjoy the action which will commence at 15:55 with division one of the six furlong novice contest.

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

The going on the polytrack surface is described as 'standard to slow' and the current weather forecast for this Wednesday is for a dark and cloudy day we a decent chance of showery rain so might be best to stay in the bars between races (just a suggestion) but we can still have a good night even with the threat of rain a top temperature will be about 12C by the time the meeting gets underway.

Here are our handicap selections for tonight;

17:30 -- 1m Handicap.
Our first handicap is the 3rd race on the card over a mile where a field of 14 have been declared. And SUN HAT [12th 7/2] is one of those and having come here on a run of three wins should still be followed until maybe tried over a little further sets the standard and ought to be hard to beat. 

The one for the place bet is the bottom weight CRITICAL THINKING [3rd 14/1], gets all the weight and has a low draw might be able to keep up there and cause some trouble at the end.

18:00 -- 6f Handicap.
A class 2 handicap is much better than the usual Wednesday night offering and this field of ten is headed by TROPICS who in his earlier career would have been seen at class 1 level off much higher marks, is now a 10yo veteran but still capable of a good show. Not for us today but a good yardstick all the same. 

Our pair against the field are going to be DANZAN [3rd 3/1] from Andrew Balding and POLYBIUS [4th 7/2] a course and distance winner last time out for trainer David Simcock.

18:30 -- 1m 3f 219y Listed 'Wild Flower' Stakes.
Our feature tonight is a listed event over just under a mile and half, has attracted a field of 10 where recent friend PIPES OF PEACE [4th 7/1] lines up and is a 33/1 shot so might have a little bet each way here, priced collapsed before we got there, was big odds, then opened 12/1 before shortening to 7s. 

VERDANA BLUE [2nd 13/8] is also interesting a rare flat runner for Nicky Henderson a winner on the AW at Chelmsford and back here over hurdles which might be more her game in the long term - keep a look out in case she's back here over the Christmas meetings.

19:00 -- 1m 3f 219y Handicap.
A fairly uninspiring bunch of out of form horses, yet something has to win, Paul Nicholls running a NH horse here is unusual and DIVINE BERE [LAY] wouldn't need to show much more than his win over a longer trip when last on the flat. Looks bit short in the betting though when surely needs further and some hurdles too. 

Jonjo O'Neill runs SPIRITUAL MAN [10th 8/1] here too but this one has been on the flat a fair bit and has winning form so very dangerous to all if on another going day. The consistent MAGIC MIRROR [WON 8/1] is giving another chance to win, has been running here regularly and gradually getting close, runner up last time might just make that experience tell.

19:30 -- 7f Handicap.
Our finale has another max field of 14 no shortage of runners to get into, top weight PAPA DELTA [WON 6/4F] is interesting having won two of his last four on the AW albeit at Lingfield and Chelmsford so could be dangerous here even with top weight. The 3yo GIVE EM A CLUMP [12th 20/1] has a 7lb claimer on now and might give this one a chance over this trip in a contest that does not look like it will take a lot of winning.

Staked -- 10 points.
Returns -- 11.5 points.

Results will appear here later on Wednesday night. Overall the losses are sadly increased to the current level of -71.72 points. A win at last, all of 1.5 point profit but hey small wins .... we just the sum of -70.22 behind now !!

LAYS -- 20/31 so far, beginning to get them beat regularly now, and if we have one or two Lays tonight they will be updated here also. After tonight's lays BOTH got beat we are now 22/33.

Tonight's Lays;

16:30 -- AL MESSILA.  LOST 2nd 11/4
19:00 -- DIVINE BERE. LOST 6th 5/1

Our next meeting here at Kempton Park will be held here next week on WEDNESDAY 12th DECEMBER so hope to see you then.