2018 KEMPTON PARK RACES -- WEDNESDAY NIGHTS #5 21st MARCH

So Cheltenham is over for another year and we all begin to look ahead to the 2019 festival. In the meantime we return here to Kempton Park on Wednesday nights and will soon have a Pontefract season to begin as well in April. This blog primarily follows the progress of handicap races on the Wednesday night races here at Kempton Park racecourse in Surrey. We've started the year reasonably well although it's a bit up and down this is only meeting five.  There are usually 4-5 handicap races covered and some Lay bets too with separate totals recorded to SP throughout the year. 

We are now into March and this will still only be week number five, though we began the year with a loss we clawed most of that back in week four and are now down -1.5 points to SP, early days and there is a long way to go but if we had recorded results to the prices taken we'd be up. 

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, off to a disappointing start this season though and as the favs are winning we are currently 1/4 going forwards with these for 2018. 

This Wednesday is meeting number five for the 2018 season and we are expecting an eight race card tonight with five handicaps to enjoy the action will commence at 17:45 with our first Handicap over a mile.

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 more chance of showers expected the top temperature will only be about 9C by the time the meeting gets underway.

Here are our selections for tonight, bit rushed so only having time to confirm selections this evening;

17:45 -- 1m Handicap.
We open with a 14 runner mile handicap where the top weight KINGSTON KURRAJONG [WON 9/2] is of slight interest as he continues to drop in the weights, but preference is going to be for course and distance winners BALTIC PRINCE [2nd 16/1] along with LUNAR DEITY [3rd 6/1].

19:45 -- 7f Handicap.
SHYRON [7th 6/1] went close for us a couple of weeks back here and is given another chance to go one better in a similar race. There are plenty of course and distance winners here and one that does stand out is OUTER SPACE [4th 7/1] whose jockey claims 5lb and has won on him recently at Lingfield too.

20:15 -- 6f Handicap.
A dozen here for the sprint where last time out runner up BORN TO FINISH [9th 12/1] is one to consider only 1lb higher now for that short head defeat with some improvement for the run possible. 

BERNIE'S BOY [12th 8/1] is versatile in terms of trip and has a regular claimer on board to assist so certain to go on the short list against these.

20:45 -- 6f Handicap.
Interesting that De Sousa is booked for the bottom one BILLY'S BOOTS [7th 9/2] reasonably consistent type, and one the jockey can probably get a little more out of here. 

Also interested in HOME AGAIN [11th 16/1] as long as the 300 day rest isn't an inconvenience.

21:15 -- 1m 7f 218y Handicap.
Our finale tonight is the stayers contest, with a max field of 14 declared, THREE COLOURS RED [7th 4/1] ran a good race in defeat last time out a fortnight ago and is given a chance to go in tonight. 

At a big price GOLLY MISS MOLLY [12th 10/1] is not too far off her last winning mark and 20/1 is attractive for the win/place bet.


Staked -- 10 points.
Returns -- NIL points.

Results will appear here later on Wednesday night. We seek to recover from our current deficit of -1.5 points, alas no joy today outside of the places (and winner) in the first race, now down at -11.5 points. 

LAYS -- 1/4 if we have one or two Lays tonight they will be updated here also. Got one right for change, now 2/5

Tonight's Lays;
18:15 -- WEST WING LOST 6th 3/1.

Our sixth meeting here at Kempton Park will be in a few weeks time on 4th April so see you then.