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.