2018 KEMPTON PARK RACES -- WEDNESDAY NIGHTS #2 24th JANUARY

Welcome to a new season for this blog which primarily follows the progress of handicap races on the Wednesday night races here at Kempton Park racecourse in Surrey. While last season was not our best by a long way we reset the counters and go again in 2018. There are usually 4-5 handicap races covered and some Lay bets too with separate totals recorded to SP. 


This is week two, last week was not the best of starts with only the one winner and a lost of -5.5 points, but there's a long way to go. 

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 which wasn't too bad last year with 18 from 28 (64%) short price lays throughout the season. Naturally we will keep these results separately from the handicap figures, again last week was not a great start for us as the selection managed to win (surprised it was 4/1, had expected about 5/4F but never mind) so 0/1 going forwards with these. 

This Wednesday is meeting number two for the 2018 season and we are expecting a seven race card tonight with five handicaps to enjoy, tonight's action will commence at 16:40 with our first Handicap over 6f.

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 winters day with heavy showers expected the top temperature will only be about 8C by the time the meeting gets underway.

Here are our selections for tonight;

16:40 -- 6f Handicap.
Tonight's card begins with a class 7 handicap over 6f and a field of 12 declared to consider, low grade but something has to win. A couple of outsiders have course and distance winning form albeit not too recent but these very low grade affairs could bring up a surprise winner so selecting both ONLY TEN PER CENT [6th 8/1] and DIVINE CALL [3rd 12/1] at 20/1 against the field in a race that's best left to low stakes.

18:15 -- 1m Handicap London Mile Series Qualifier (3yo).
Eleven three year olds line up for the mile handicap and it's nicely open, with top weight CARP KID [3rd 11/2] a recent runner up here off similar mark and given a chance to put his head in front. Another selection with a similar profile is FAR DAWN [5th 4/1] another recent runner up (Southwell) and gets 3lb so should go fairly close again.

18:45 -- 1m Handicap.
Another mile contest but open to all ages this time, fourteen to look at we start at recent course winner HAPPY ESCAPE [WON 11/2] would started his 2018 off with a win, and along with MAGIC MIRROR [6th 7/2] who picked up a couple of similar races towards the end of last year and could go well again while in good heart.


19:15 -- 7f Handicap.
Relatively small field here with just eight standing in which SPUN GOLD [6th 7/2] looks a good bet having improved to win his last two events and just a 6lb penalty might be worth sticking with while in good order. 

Top weight INAAM [5th 12/1] has the benefit of a 7lb claimer who has been on board the last two rides and that will aide his chances based on his runner up effort at Wolves.

19:45 -- 1m 3f 219y Handicap.
Our finale tonight a max field of 14 and a chance for THAQAFFA [WON 11/2] to double up on the course win a couple of weeks ago beating a large field and along with DEELEYS DOUBLE [5th 2/1F] who has a similar task too but doesn't quite have the same level of experience but is still interesting.

Staked -- 10 points.
Returns -- 13 points.

Results will appear here later on Wednesday night. Hurrah a win that was most welcome, a profit of +3 points thus reduces our loss after week 2 down to a more respectable -2.5 points.  

LAYS -- 0/1 after last weeks first one managed to win, oh well it happens, if we have one or two Lays tonight they will be updated here also. 

Tonight's Lays;
17:15 -- ARTIESHOW [WON 9/4].
17:45 -- HOLY SHAMBLES [LOST 5th 9/4].


One win, One lost, so 1/3 after week two.

Our third meeting here at Kempton Park will be in a few weeks time on Wednesday 21st February see you then.