KEMPTON PARK RACES 2019 -- WEDNESDAY NIGHTS #5 27th FEBRUARY

Back again for the next instalment of what I hope will prove to be a productive year in 2019.

We've reached the end of February already and just a few weeks away to the Cheltenham Festival. In the meantime the Six Nations rugby keeps us going and England going well with wins against the Irish and French so far and Wales to come (shame about that result) but swing low sweet chariot!! Sadly AFC Wimbledon lost in the FA Cup against Millwall but have started to win again in the league until losing in the last minute 1-2 against Charlton. So we are back to focus on the horse racing now while the lights still shine brightly here at Kempton Park throughout this year. We are hopeful of better season than we experienced last year but it's just some fun and excitement to mix up the week we have started the first quarter well though so it's positive thus far. 

Lets continue with our fifth Wednesday night of 2019, and will continue to focus on the handicap contests for each Wednesday evening meeting though we will also occasionally include a feature listed or conditions event too if there is one 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. 

Following last week's excellent set of results we have turned around our fortunes clearing our early losses and are now ahead +1 point to SP. [Every little helps]

Once more this year we will keep up with our occasional lay opportunities of anticipated short priced favourites too. Naturally we will keep these results separately from the handicap figures we have been fairly successful with our selections so far and are 4/5 alas the 100% record went with an odds on favourite winning last time but it's still a good strike rate and we will continue into 2019. 

This Wednesday is meeting number five for the 2019 AW season and we are expecting a bumper eight race card tonight with the division of two handicap contests tonight it means we have no less than seven handicaps this week for us to look through and enjoy. The action tonight will commence at 16:55 with a six furlong apprentice handicap contest for three year olds only and the card ends around about 20:30 with the second division of the seven furlong handicap.

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 16C by the time the meeting gets underway so a nice enjoyable night under the lights.

Here are our handicap selections for tonight;

16:55 -- 6f Apprentice Handicap (3yo).
We open tonight with an apprentice handicap event for 3yo only, a field of 12 declared with the only course and distance winner in the field GRANDEE DAISY [2nd 6/1] a selection for us along with NGUNI [Non Runner] representing Paul Cole in a race that doesn't really take much deliberation.

17:30 -- 6f Handicap (Div 1).
Our next handicap event is a 6f sprint, with 22 runners declared this race has been splint into two divisions and the races time also altered. First division has 11 runners and top weight OUR MAN IN HAVANA [Non Runner] has the benefit of Cieren Fallon (Kieren's son) taking off a valuable 7lb and he's probably a claimer to keep on-side this season. 

Our other selection doesn't have the greatest draw but plenty of experience with Franny Norton on board DIVINE CALL [5th 66/1] and this 12yo can still put a shift in - wasn't far off a big place.

18:00 -- 6f Handicap (Div 2).
The 2nd division of the 6f sprint handicap also has a field of 11 headed by KNOCKOUT BLOW [6th 11/2] who along with DARING GUEST [8th 9/2] represent our interests here.

19:00 -- 1m Handicap.
A field of 13 for the mile handicap on the card, where top weight INTREPIDLY [9th 11/4] is of interest having finished runner up here earlier in the month, along with RAMPANT LION [WON 11/2] a course and distance winner in November has shown signs of staying bit more with runs either side of that but should go well again for David Probert.

19:30 -- 1m 2f 219y Handicap.
In a handicap where only 6lb separates the entire field have looked with interest at the bottom pair tonight. MONSIEUR FOX [8th 20/1] and COLD HARBOUR [6th 8/1] the former is lightly raced and was placed here in January at decent price so worth a crack over the longer trip with time on their side, while Cold Harbour was a winner at Lingfield last time out in only his fifth race and might be able to see off the 3lb rise here tonight.

20:00 -- 7f Handicap (Div 1).
The final race has also been divided into two and in the opening division we focus on two last time out winners HUNGARIAN RHAPSODY [10th 7/2] and COLLATE [4th 11/2] the former had been off the track for a while before winning at Wolves so the bounce factor might play, however Jamie Osborne can work wonders with some of these so called "cast offs". 

20:30 -- 7f Handicap (Div 2).
Our final event tonight and we chance the pair RIVAS ROB ROY [3rd 7/2] with our old friend VIOLA PARK [WON 11/4] the latter is particularly effective at the trip and this sort of mark so expecting to go close. 

Staked -- 14 points.

Returns -- 12.25 points.

Results will appear here later on during Wednesday night. A successful meeting last time means we wiped out the losses and are now ahead by +1 point. A mixed night, couple of winners, couple of non runners but a loss of -1.75 points to SP and that turns our 1 point profit into a -0.75 point loss going forwards.

LAYS -- 4/5.  Nice start to the year with successful lays in the opening few meetings, just one odds on shot spoiling the perfect record last time, but will see if we can get a couple more beat tonight and improve the record.

Tonight's Lays;
May appear here later. None selected tonight.

Our next meeting for this year will be held on Wednesday 6th March so hope to see you then and throughout 2019 too.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MUM, LOVE YOU MISS YOU LOADS Xxx

A VERY SPECIAL BIRTHDAY WISH FOR MY MUM. WISH YOU WERE STILL HERE WITH US  Xx

Love you Mum x

Those we love don't go away,
They walk beside us everyday.
Unseen, Unheard, but always near.
Still loved, Still missed. 

February is a sad time for me, with both Mum and Dad having birthdays so shall be making a special trip to the Rose Gardens at the Crematorium this weekend, usually visit and stay for a while to have a talk with Mum and Dad and will hopefully be dry enough for a longer stay. Will get some new photo's of the roses if they are out yet but might be too early for flowers. 


Sadly only have a few older photo's of you mum but they are all on display at home along with Dads too. We are alike in that neither of us liked having our photo taken really, so there's hardly any of me either. What I would give to have just one with us all together. 

Miss you so much Mum, lots of love always and forever. xXx

FA CUP 2018-19 SIXTH ROUND DRAW MONDAY 18th FEBRUARY BBC 1 7:30pm

Once more this Monday night it will be time for the draw to be made for the 6th Round of this seasons FA Cup. The Dons great run in this years competition came to an end with the weekends disappointing 0 - 1 loss against Millwall. Feeling a bit disappointed after such a narrow defeat but we tried our best and the Lions won with their first chance after only five minutes, guess that was all that they needed and it probably could have been more but there you go, it's over, and good luck to Millwall in tonight's draw.

We will update here on Monday night with the details of the 6th round draw while it's being made, which I understand will be AFTER the Live 5th round tie between Chelsea and Manchester United, which is being shown on BBC 1 and is the outstanding tie of the 5th round. Mark Chapman will host the draw, which will be conducted by former United player Darren Fletcher and Wayne Bridge who will be representing Chelsea.

FA Cup Sixth Round Draw

    Swansea City    vs    Manchester City
    Watford    vs    Crystal Palace

    Wolverhampton Wanderers    vs    Manchester United
    Millwall    vs    Brighton and Hove Albion

Ties to be played over the weekend of 15th - 18th March and further details of the live transmission of these ties will be announced later.

FA CUP FIFTH ROUND -- AFC WIMBLEDON vs MILLWALL SATURDAY 16th FEBRUARY 2019

The FA Cup comes into town once again with the 5th round now upon us, and having beaten Fleetwood Town 3-2 in round three then seeing off Premier League West Ham 4-2 in the fourth round we find the mighty Dons progressing into round five of the FA Cup for the first time since being resurrected in 2002. We have drawn a home fixture again and face Championship "Bad Boys" Millwall who themselves did a bit of giant killing last time beating Everton 3-2 with the help of a dodgy handball...but hey they all count don't they. The match is Saturday at 3pm and has NOT been selected for TV and I suspect there will still be a strong police presence around Kingsmeadow. Lets hope the headlines are all about the football and not any off field nonsense.


Championship Millwall currently sit in 20th place in their league, and will be looking at this as a serious chance to reach the 6th round although their recent reputation and history is often about what happens off the pitch. Lets hope it's a peaceful game.

Scott Wagstaff hero of round 4.

FORM GUIDE (Last 6 matches in their respective leagues, starting with the most recent result)
      AFC Wimbledon  --  WLLLDL
      MILLWALL --  DLDDLW









LAST TIME OUT [Tuesday]
Walsall 0  AFC Wimbledon 1

Millwall 0  Sheffield Wednesday 0

The Dons arrive into this important FA Cup game still sat at the bottom of League One although the performances have been improved since the arrival of Wally Downes and coach Glyn Hodges. A midweek win away at Walsall should instill a bit more confidence too and our FA Cup form is a different story though and having seen off West Ham last time we find ourselves with a "winnable" game IF we can step up to that level of performance once again, though that's a big IF. Who knows what will happen, it's the magic of the cup, and as long as we pull together and try our best anything is possible. Shame that the league form hasn't materialised although this is not only a nice distraction while it lasts but financially very useful for next years League Two budget.

Updates will be published with team news and more as and when it comes through, am particularly looking at Scott Wagstaff who promised to colour his fantastic beard yellow and blue after beating West Ham!! Shame he's only on the bench this would have been funny to watch him run about. 

Line Ups (Confirmed);

AFC WIMBLEDON

Odds -- 3/1 (William Hill) 

Ramsdale (Gk),  Oshilaja (c),  Nightingale,  McDonald,  Sibbick,  McLoughlin,  Hartigan,  Wordsworth  ,  Garratt,  Pigott,  Folivi

Subs – McDonnell (Gk),  Thomas,  Wagstaff,  Pinnock,  Connolly,  Barcham,  Soares

MILLWALL
Odds -- 10/11 (William Hill) 

Archer (Gk),  Romeo,  Cooper,  Pearce,  Wallace  ,  Wallace,  Williams,  Leonard,  Ferguson (c),  Gregory,  O'Brien

Subs – Martin (Gk),  Hutchinson,  Tunnicliffe,  Elliott,  Morison,  Skalak,  Hanson  

H/T Score – 0 - 1  [Wallace 5'] 

First Half Comment;

Millwall in all orange kit (reminding me of Luton Town) and we are underway in the cup. A cross finds Dons striker Joe Pigott who hits the post so a lively start here at Kingsmeadow. Alas only five minutes and we are behind, a break down the right crossed in and finds Murray Wallace who scores the opener for Millwall. We haven't started badly but it's disappointing to be behind so early I hope that the heads don't drop we can get back into this. Wally Downes giving plenty of encouragement and we are still in this yet not really giving the Lions keeper much to do. Millwall to be fair haven't really done a lot either but still lead, they are managing to hoof the ball out of the ground a lot too. Half time and Millwall lead with their only shot on goal of the game. 

F/T Score – 0 - 1

Match Summary;
Andy Barcham comes on at the start of the second half to replace Tyler Garrett, as the Dons seek to get back on terms in this tie. A good start and winning corners but sadly are wasted and come to nothing, time to bring on Dylan Connolly who has been very effective since joining us and Tom Elliott comes on for Millwall to some cheers and jeers (good nature banter) Dons are denied a penalty which is nothing new for us but we still creating chances, maybe we can take one of these before the games ends. Still going forwards with a few minutes to go but it's not been a classic and Millwall seem to be able to take everything we throw at them. Three mins of added on time and we need that one last chance and sadly it's not coming. 

My Man of the Match – Aaron Ramsdale.

Referee -- Our referee for this important fifth round FA Cup tie will be Jon Moss who is on the Premier League list and was born in Sunderland and resides in Yorkshire so no southern bias. Isn't shy of showing plenty of cards so the overs market will be supported and Red Card wouldn't be a big surprise as he showed two in the last round.

Attendance – 4,795

Next match:
Saturday 23rd February vs Charlton Athletic (Home)
League One 3:00pm

EMIRATES FA CUP 2019 -- FIFTH ROUND WEEKEND

This weekend sees the 5th round of this years FA Cup Competition sponsored by Emirates. Games will take place during the course of Friday 15th - Monday 18th February . I've written up the match featuring my team AFC Wimbledon against Millwall so we will also have a quick glance across all eight matches and give our opinion of the likely victors find one or two shock results and maybe a few bets along the way;

Friday 15th February 2019

QUEENS PARK RANGERS VS WATFORD
[kick off 19:45  BT Sport]

Our FA Cup weekend will begin on Friday night with Championship Q.P.R. taking on Premier League Watford at Loftus Road. The match is the first of SIX live fixtures in the FA Cup this weekend and will be shown on BT Sport. Rangers were taken to a replay but saw off Portsmouth 2-0 eventually while Watford beat Newcastle by the same scoreline at St James Park first time around. This should be an intense atmosphere inside the compact ground, if Watford rest any of their first XI then I'd be strongly supporting the QPR side but realistically Watford should see this as a big chance to make it another step closer to Wembley. 

Bets - Troy Deeney to score (assume he starts).
Red card in the game and bookings over 45 points market.

Result -  0 - 1.

Saturday 16th February 2019

BRIGHTON and HOVE ALBION  VS  DERBY COUNTY  
[kick off 12:30  BT Sport]

The Saturday lunchtime game will be shown on BT SPORT and gives an opportunity for more cup glory, Brighton needed a replay and extra time to see off a determined West Brom 3-1 to face Derby who did a professional beating Accrington Stanley 1-0 in the previous round. Neither are that prolific though Brighton do have a good home record and in Glenn Murray a striker who can make the difference in a game - sadly he's not in the squad so will have to see who we can replace him with. 

Bets - I don't think there will be much in this and will look at the UNDER 2.5 Goals market as well as backing Jürgen Locadia to score in a Brighton win.

Result - 2 - 1 Brighton Win and while slightly over with our prediction at least we got the goalscorer and the win.

AFC WIMBLEDON  VS MILLWALL  
[Kick off 15:00]

Have covered this in more detail in a separate blog post which you can find here LINK Come on you Dons !! 

Result - 0 - 1. Well done Millwall, one shot, one goal, job done. Good luck in the next round. 

NEWPORT COUNTY VS MANCHESTER CITY  
[Kick off 15:00  BT Sport]

No prizes for saying this should be an easy Man City stroll, but Newport have excelled in the cup for the last two seasons and at home will always make life difficult for their Premier League opponents. Don't think it will be a pretty game as the Rodney Parade ground can turn into a bit of bog at times should the rains come, but City have far too much quality and will surely settle this tie with little fuss. Expect a few of their younger players to appear (Phil Foden, Claudio Gomes, Eric Garcia etc).

Bets - Manchester City to win and over 3.5 goals. Penalty to be scored too might be worth a shot. 

Result - 1 - 4.

Sunday 17th February 2019

BRISTOL CITY  VS WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS
[Kick off 13:00  BT Sport]
First of three games on Sunday, and this is a big chance of an upset as Bristol City are on a terrific run of form in the Championship and might use that plus home advantage to see off Premier League Wolves. Yes Wolves have great players and are more than comfortable in the league, they might not put out a first string again having rested half their team in the replay win over Shrewsbury which will offer City a chance to upset the odds. 

Bets - Back Bristol City to win @7/2. Also might be a bit feisty so will be on the Red Card @9/2 and Penalty markets @3/1 too.

Result - 0 - 1.

DONCASTER ROVERS VS CRYSTAL PALACE  

[Kick off 16:00  BBC 1]

A match that also depends on what sort of starting XI Palace choose to send out, they surely still got one eye on keeping their Premier League place however do tend to take this competition seriously having been finalists only 3 year ago losing a thrilling final against Manchester United. And also beating high flying Tottenham 2-0 in the last round, they might fancy another trip to Wembley this season, while Doncaster have beaten Oldham 2-1 and Preston 3-1 in the last couple of rounds so this is their first test against better opposition and it's their first 5th round game in over 60 years. 

Bets -- Crystal Palace to win by 2 clear goals if they play a near first string side, back the bookings odds (over 45 points) too as part of accumulators in today's games.

Result - 0 - 2.

SWANSEA CITY VS BRENTFORD  
[Kick off 16:00  BT Sport]

The only other game to NOT feature on TV this weekend is an all Championship affair between Swansea and Brentford, the welsh side beat Gillingham 4-1 in the last round while Brentford were taken to a replay by Barnet eventually tinning 3-1. Both sides do tend to leak goals so will be looking at the goal scored markets for a bet over 3.5 goals overs in the first half too as well as looking at the prices for Neal Maupay to score anytime.

Result - 4 - 1.

Monday 18th February 2019

CHELSEA  VS  MANCHESTER UNITED 
[Kick off 19:30  BBC 1]

The final 5th round tie is on Monday night and will be live on BBC TV, we also expect that the 6th round draw will also have been made prior to kick off. This is the highlight of the weekend and is of course a repeat of last season's final which Chelsea won 1-0 courtesy of an Eden Hazard penalty.

Chelsea are somewhat hot and cold under new coach Maurizio Sarri and were ruthlessly smashed 6-0 last weekend by Manchester City. However they still have plenty of quality in their side and should be up for this against a Manchester United outfit who appear to be a completely reformed side under their new coach Ole Gunnar Solskjær. 

Bets - I think it'll be close, maybe go 1-0 / 0-1 in 90 mins. Also a bet on David Luiz to be carded if he starts.

Result -  0 - 2.

Have a wonderful weekend whatever you are up to.

KEMPTON PARK RACES 2019 -- WEDNESDAY NIGHTS #4 13th FEBRUARY

BHB Announce that racing will resume this Wednesday. 

A decision to resume racing in a "controlled, risk-managed manner" was unanimously supported by an industry veterinary committee, said the British Horseracing Authority (BHA).

The committee felt there had been "an unprecedented amount" of the highly contagious virus in Europe, and it was essential precautions were taken to protect horses. "Clearly there is some risk associated with returning to racing," said the BHA's chief regulatory officer Brant Dunshea. "This risk has been assessed and, based on the evidence - and ensuring biosecurity measures are in place - the level of risk is viewed as acceptable."

An update has been created during Tuesday once declarations for this Wednesday's meeting were available.

Back again for the next instalment of what I hope will prove to be a productive year in 2019.

January is over so if you had been "Dry" then don't worry February is now here to allow you into the pubs and return to being a normal adult again ... it's also seen the start of the six nations rugby (Good win for England against the Irish and French) so get a few drinks in you !! Things are back to normal with work and the cold dark mornings and equally murky nights. Even AFC Wimbledon managed a win in the league so the tide is turning and the lights will still shine brightly here at Kempton Park throughout this year. We are hopeful of better season than we experienced last year but it's just some fun and excitement to mix up the week. Cheltenham Festival and the the new flat season proper is only a month away and we started the year on a relatively positive note after the opening few meetings.

Lets continue with our fourth Wednesday night of 2019, and will continue to focus on the handicap contests for each Wednesday evening meeting though we will also occasionally include a feature listed or conditions event too if there is one 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. Following last week's break even set of results we remain behind -14 point to SP.

Once more this year we will keep up with our occasional lay opportunities of anticipated short priced favourites too. Naturally we will keep these results separately from the handicap figures we have been fairly successful with our selections so far and are 3/3 a 100% record I wonder how long that will last into 2019. 

This Wednesday is meeting number Four for the 2019 AW season and we are expecting a seven race card tonight with no less than Six Handicaps this week for us to look through and enjoy. The action which will commence at 17:15 with an apprentice handicap contest and the card ends around about 20:15 with our final handicap over seven furlongs.

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 12C by the time the meeting gets underway so please wrap up warm, take a hip flask too.

Now that the BHA have allowed racing to go ahead these will be our handicap selections for tonight, owing to the delay in getting the declarations it's just selections for now sorry;

17:15 -- 1m 2f 219y Apprentice Handicap.
CLEARANCE [WON 11/2]  //  THE CELTIC MACHINE [10th 12/1].

18:15 -- 7f Fillies Handicap.
TITAN GODDESS [6th 8/1]  //  GAINSAY [Non Runner].

18:45 -- 1m Handicap (3yo).
ANNECY [8th 20/1]  //  MY DEAR FRIEND [WON 7/2].

19:15 -- 1m Handicap.
REGULATOR [7th 50/1]  //  ALBISHR [8th 14/1].

19:45 -- 1m 7f 218y Handicap.
CONKERING HERO [8th 25/1]  //  LE TORRENT [WON 14/1]. 

20:15 -- 7f Handicap.
SIR OTTOMAN [2nd 10/3]  //  STORM MELODY [8th 8/1].

Staked -- 12 points.
Returns --  27 points.

Results will appear here later on Wednesday night if racing takes place. Couple of wins in the final races meant we broke evening last time out and remain down -14 points. A wonderful return to racing with a healthy profit tonight of +15 points. This has wiped out the early losses and we move onto the next meeting on +1 point now.

LAYS -- 3/3.  Nice start to the year with successful lays in the opening few meetings, will see if we can add to that tonight and keep the run going. One successful one failed (odds on but doesn't matter it's annoying) so we are 4 from 5 now.

Tonight's Lays;
17:15 -- SHELDON COOPER [LOST 6th 5/1].
17:45 -- ULSTER [WON 8/11F]. 

Our next meeting for this year will be held on Wednesday 27th February so hope to see you then and throughout 2019 too.