KEMPTON PARK HORSE RACING 2021 - MEETING #5 WEDNESDAY 17th FEBRUARY

Welcome to Kempton Park racecourse here for another season of evening meetings following the events on a Wednesday night on the all weather flat track under the lights. We will be blogging throughout 2021 till the end of the year. Another successful evening last time out, and still well ahead as February brings another cold spell. Plenty of other sporting action to enjoy, AFC Wimbledon finally managed a win last week at Wigan but had their game against Rochdale on Saturday called off due to a frozen pitch. More six nations action over the weekend too with England needing a good display against Italy following their defeat to Scotland (Won 41-18). Continue to enjoy my horse racing exploits here and over the jumps with Cheltenham NH festival coming up next month.

Back to the horse racing tonight where all results here are reported to 1pt at Starting Prices (SP) we will be keeping a rolling record of profit/loss all the way through from January till the Boxing Day King George fixture in December. After our first month of meetings we have a +48.24 profit and will continue to keep a results record to SP throughout 2021.

Throughout the 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 had been fairly successful with our selections throughout last year managed to get plenty of favourites beat so we finished on 33/49 (67.34%). We reset the counters for 2021 and will be continuing this throughout the year again. Currently standing at 5/8 after the latest meeting and we shall see how things progress during the year ahead. 

This week we look forward to the fifth Wednesday evening meeting of the year and sadly it's still being held behind closed doors as we continue in the latest national lockdown. Tonight we shall be expecting a nine race card with five handicaps to review. The action on tonight's card will now commence at 16:15 with a seven furlong maiden event and we should end the card around about 20:20 with the second division of the classified stakes event over six furlongs. There are no noted feature races tonight, the best being a class two handicap while the rest are class five / class six handicaps.

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

Going and Weather -- The going on the polytrack surface is described as 'standard to slow' and the current weather forecast for this Wednesday is for a lot of chilly weather and it's probably just as well there is no attendance tonight as there's likely to be plenty of rain plus the temperature will only reach a high of 11C tonight.

Here are our handicap selections for tonight;

17:15  Unibet 3 Uniboosts A Day Handicap
6f  [Class 2  /  8 runners]

Our opening handicap follows two maiden events on the card and is the best quality event in terms of 'class' and prize money. BRIAN THE SNAIL [4th @5/1] has gone well for us before, winning three of his last six runs at different all weather tracks shows he's very versatile (also placed in some big handicaps such as Stewards Cup at Goodwood) and the run might well continue tonight. While this is another step along the ladder for GHAITH [2nd @6/1] has a recent win to his name and could be a little bit of value against the opposition in a fairly open race.

17:45  Unibet Casino Deposit 10 Get 40 Bonus Fillies' Handicap
1m 3f 219y  [Class 5  /  9 runners]

It's the fillies turn now, a field of nine, the two 'top weights' Inclyne and Dono Di Dio are helped by the presence of two claiming jockey's but are still overlooked as our selection in favour of PRISMATIC [5th @18/1] a filly by Golden Horn has only had four races so far and should be at home over this trip. Also looking towards LUNAR BOUNTY [2nd @11/1] the Alan King filly will have a future over obstacles for sure and yet could be one to keep on side in flat handicaps - beaten a neck. 

18:20  Try Our New Super Boosts At Unibet Handicap
1m  [Class 4  /  7 runners]

A mile handicap to enjoy now, where SILVER DUST [2nd @10/1] returns to the course for the first time since winning here last March, also successful at Beverley and Hamilton has dropped back to a reasonable handicap mark now and should give us a good run for our money and for his trainer Richard Fahey. Interesting to see THAAYER [6th @11/1] come down to Kempton as is usually seen on the Newcastle Aw surface, tumbled down from a mark of 81 if the travelling isn't an issue this might be a big price result.

18:50  Try Our New Price Boosts At Unibet Fillies' Handicap
1m  [Class 5  /  8 runners]

The fillies race over a mile now where the 7yo mare THE JEAN GENIE [6th 14/1] returns to a workable mark and although seems to have a preference to running at Lingfield (her last five runs there, placed twice) if the change of scenery doesn't upset her I would expect a big run in this class. While LADY ALAVESA [5th 9/2] was a winner in a small field here when last seen, only 2lb higher tonight and does represent the only course and distance form in the field. Jockey Jack Mitchell keeps the ride and another win looks on the cards.

19:20  Join Racing TV Now Handicap

1m  [Class 6  /  9 runners]

Our final handicap event tonight has the largest field of ten, top weight ROLLER [WON @11/2] actually runs of 9-4 with Joanna Mason's 5lb claim, she was on board when runner up here last time out and the 8yo should go close once more in this company. one of several course and distance winners in the field tonight. My other selection is a relatively young mare with low millage RAHA [5th @9/1] a 5yo who's recent runs here have been at a slightly higher grade, with the jockey's 3lb claim I would be surprised if not placed at least.

Staked -- 10 points.       Returns -- 6.5 points.
Results will appear here later during Wednesday evening. All results are accurate and recorded to SP returns to a 1pt win stake only and updated each meeting. A winning start to 2021 was most welcome, and we had another successful meeting here last time which increased our overall profit up to +48.24 pts after meeting #4. We will update tonight's results for meeting #5 during the course of the evening. Was looking like a few runners up but we managed a win in the last to minimize the loss tonight, down -3.5 pts but still +44.74 pts to carry onwards to meeting #6

Lays -- 5/8 We had a good season last year again with the lays, aiming at favourites and not afraid to take on short odds on shots too. The plan will be for at least one or two each meeting and we will keep those results separate from the handicaps. All three lays are beat tonight which is always pleasing especially when one is odds-on [overall 8/11]. 

Tonight's Lays;

16:15 - Regent [7f Maiden].  Lost 3rd 7/2

16:45 - Raging Rascal [7f Maiden].  Lost 3rd 8/11f

17:15 - Premier Power [6f Handicap].  Lost 8th 9/4f

Our next midweek floodlit meeting here will be held on Wednesday 24th February so keep well and hopefully we can have a successful 2021.