AUGUST BANK HOLIDAY MONDAY 2021 - 30th AUGUST

August Bank Holiday Weekend
I wonder what will be in store for us this final Bank Holiday before Christmas, the end to a summer break and one that many will have been having a 'staycation' here in Uk, with the long school holidays soon to end. While I'm unlikely to venture too far out we are still looking for something to enjoy, the weather has hardly been welcoming this summer but I might have a run down to Brighton and a walk along the seafront. The domestic football season has begun for the 2021-22 season and there's been plenty of horse racing action to enjoy.

Horse Racing Meetings - Monday 30th August
Usually a time where a very busy weekend of racing with festivals taking place around the country most of them traditionally family fun days, the big meetings for instance at Cartmel their traditional season end with a crowd enjoying the fair and location for a short break, Epsom also stage a family fun day meeting which includes the Amateur Derby while at Ripon they host the feature for the day their Champion 2yo Trophy (Listed). 

Cartmel NH Turf
Chepstow Flat Turf
Epsom Downs Flat Turf
Ripon Flat Flat Turf

Downpatrick NH (Ire)
Roscommon Flat (Ire) [Evening]

We shall take a look at the feature races around the various tracks today;

CARTMEL [1st race 14:20]
Feature event - Peter Beaumont Memorial Handicap Chase
[Class 2  2m 1f 61y] @15:30

Selection - Ming Dynasty - landing a pair of five runner handicaps this summer and a 4lb rise for last Perth win looks perfectly fair, the top one Hatcher from the Skelton team is another with multiple wins this summer and likely the one to give our selection most to do..

CHEPSTOW [1st race 14:15]
Not really a feature event on the card, a couple of class 4 handicaps is as good as it gets, we'll feature the first of these.
It Pays To Buy Irish Handicap [6f] due off at 14:50
Selection - Airshow.

EPSOM DOWNS [1st race 14:00]

Feature events are a pair of Class 3 handicaps

15:10 7f Wooton Handicap

Selection - Bravado.

16:20 1m 2f Don Churston Handicap

Selection - Naval Commander.

In between these handicaps they also host the annual Amateurs' Derby Handicap [15:45]

Selection - Maori Knight.

RIPON [1st race 13:20]
Feature event - Ripon Champion 2yo Trophy (6f Listed) @15:05
Selection - Taj Alriyadh.

WOLVERHAMPTON  [1st race 13:00]
Feature event - St Leger on Sky Sports Handicap (5f) @15:15

Selection - Charming Kid.

DOWNPATRICK [1st race 13:10]
Feature event - Remembering The McDowell Family's 'Caughoo' Ulster & Aintree Grand National Winner Handicap Chase. [2m 1f 165y] @15:55
Selection - Ripon Lodge.

ROSCOMMON [1st race 16:10]

Feature event - Irish Ebf Median Sires Series Race [7f] @16:10

Selection - Snapius.

Hope you can enjoy your August Bank Holiday wherever it takes you and whatever you are up to. We have an evening meeting at Pontefract on Friday next.

KEMPTON PARK HORSE RACING 2021 - MEETING #22 WEDNESDAY 25th AUGUST

Welcome to Kempton Park racecourse a season of evening meetings following the events on a Wednesday night on the all weather flat track under the lights. We will continue blogging throughout 2021 till the end of the year. Started well this season pleasantly still ahead as we push on through August still in profit and less than half the season to go. Away from the racing we have AFC Wimbledon travelling away to Sunderland for one of their first 'tests' of the season against the bigger sides in the division. Sadly a deflected effort for the hosts meant they won 1-0 and next week will be another test against Ipswich Town. We also look forward to the start of the Tokyo Paralympics this week. 

Returning to the horse racing 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. A successful opening first half of the year during 2021 went a little behind in July but now we are back in front with a profit of +30.93 points and we will continue to keep a record to SP throughout the season.

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 24/31 (77.42%) after the latest meeting and we shall see how things progress during the year ahead. 

This week will be our 22nd Wednesday evening meeting of the year. Tonight's meeting we shall be expecting a seven race card with five handicaps for us to review. The meeting includes another qualifier for the London Middle Distance Series which is due off at 20:30. Our action will now commence at 17:55 with a two year old novice stakes over a mile trip, then we should end the card around about 21:00 with the final handicap event for three year olds over six furlongs.

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 somewhat humid afternoon and early evening with a fair chance of showers in the forecast and a highest expected temperature of around 21C tonight.

Here are our handicap selections for tonight;

18:25  Unibet Extra Place Offers Every Day Handicap [Div 1] (3yo)
1m  [Class 5  9 runners]

Opening handicap for us has been divided into two divisions of three year olds, the first of which could fall to Last Mission [6th @18/1] now entering handicaps for the first time, Jamie Spencer rides now and was 4th at 50/1 at Windsor last time while he won't be that price today would expect a decent effort. Also considering the chances of Golden Claim [4th @5/2] a course and distance winner in July, three runs here placed here last time off this mark not far behind the winner that day and James Doyle takes over in the saddle.
Winner - (10) Solomons Judgement @5/2jf [Robert Tart].

18:55  Unibet Extra Place Offers Every Day Handicap [Div 2] (3yo)
1m  [Class 5  10 runners]

The second division is similar in quality, the top weight Thunderclap will clearly be popular having won here last time out for Oisin Murphy but this is another step up and I'll side with the bigger prices of Ventura Vision [5th @9/1] from Mark Johnston's yard along with Aussie Rascal [9th @9/1] [Tom Ward] who didn't show on turf but was runner up here prior to those runs and could go well again at decent odds, that's my pair against the field tonight.
Winner - (1) Thunderclap @10/11f [Oisin Murphy].

20:00  Unibet New Instant Roulette Fillies' Handicap
1m 3f 219y  [Class 5  11 runners]

A middle distance event for the ladies, a dual winner earlier in the season Maxine [8th @17/2] was upped in the weights as a result so stopped in her tracks, has now started to drop a little and on this surface might well be able to go close again if we can strike a line through the last run at Lingfield where she was effectively pulled up. Running in the colours of Cheveley Park Stud Two Two Time [4th @9/2] lurks at the end of this handicap, a lightly raced filly who's only seen the all weather in four starts. Jockey Tom Marquand takes the reins tonight, looks a decent price around 16/1 and a place is the least we would be looking for.
Winner - (5) Summertime Romance @11/2 [Andrea Atzeni].

20:30  Unibet 3 Uniboosts A Day (London Middle Distance Series Qualifier) Handicap (3yo)

1m 2f 219y  [Class 3  7 runners]

Just the seven runners and with the Godolphin team in decent order at this point in the season would expect Marching Army [4th @8/1] to be closer here today than the disappointing run at Goodwood last time, won well at Leicester prior to that and price should be generous. Also having an interest in Zikany [6th @3/1] with Ryan Moore taking over in the saddle this trip ought to be ideal for Sir Michael Stoute's inmate. 
Winner - (5) Tribal Art @16/1 [F Norton].

21:00  Try Our New Price Boosts At Unibet Handicap (3yo)
6f  [Class 6  12 runners]

We round off the meeting with a six furlong sprint for three year olds and I'm with Ray Day [12th @9/2] [Tr. Ed Walker] the filly having her first look at the all weather surface here and her first handicap attempt, ran with credit on all starts so far, this wouldn't need to be anything special to score. Also having an interest in Nurse Florence [3rd @5/1] [Tr. Jamie Osborne] who has a lot more experience and a win at Lingfield to show for her efforts, first time at Kempton for a trainer that does well here.

Winner - (9) Pinball Wizard @17/2 [N Callan].

Staked -- 10 points.       Returns -- 0 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. Our winning start to 2021 has returned and we are now back in the black to the tune of +30.93 points to a level stake at SP coming into our 22nd meeting. Disappointing evening where we drew a blank on the handicaps, still ahead by +20.93 points to SP though back end of September.

Lays -- 24/31 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. These continue to go quite well given we are past the half way point of the year, and they are generally very short prices, including another successful fav beaten during the last few meetings. The plan will be for at least one or two each meeting and we will keep those results separate from the handicaps. Another fav beat in the opener here keeping the recent run going. 25/32 

Tonight's Lays;

17:55 - Peak Perfect [1m 2yo Novice Stakes]. Lost 3rd @85/40f

We will have another midweek floodlit meeting here on Wednesday 22nd September so keep well and hopefully we can have a successful 2021.

KEMPTON PARK HORSE RACING 2021 - MEETING #21 WEDNESDAY 18th AUGUST

Welcome to Kempton Park racecourse a season of evening meetings following the events on a Wednesday night on the all weather flat track under the lights. We will continue blogging throughout 2021 till the end of the year. Started well this season pleasantly still ahead as we push on through August still in profit and less than half the season to go. Away from the racing we have been to AFC Wimbledon for their first home league fixture this season coming from behind to share a 3-3 against Bolton Wanderers last Saturday, this was the first league game in Plough Lane with the fans back in numbers it was great to see and beginning to feel a bit more 'normal' now another home match is due on Tuesday night against Gillingham [7:45]. 

Returning to the horse racing 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. A successful opening first half of the year during 2021 went a little behind in July but now we are back in front with a profit of +31.555 points and we will continue to keep a record to SP throughout the season.

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 23/30 (76.67%) after the latest meeting and we shall see how things progress during the year ahead. 

This week will be our 21st Wednesday evening meeting of the year. Tonight's meeting we shall be expecting a six race card with four handicaps for us to review. The meeting includes another qualifier for the London Mile Series which is off at 19:45. Our action will now commence at 18:15 with the first of our handicap events over seven furlongs, then we should end the card around about 20:45 with the final handicap event over shade under 12 furlongs.

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 somewhat warmer afternoon and early evening with a serious chance of showers in the forecast and a highest expected temperature of around 21C tonight.

Here are our handicap selections for tonight;

18:15  Try Our New Price Boosts At Unibet Handicap (3yo)
7f  [Class 6  13 runners]

We open with our first handicap for 3yo's and a field of fourteen where top weight Valentinka [4th @16/1] now has a 7lb claimer on board and that might drop her into contention today. Just Amber [3rd @9/1] comes into her first handicap on a low mark, the Clive Cox yard are going well and this wouldn't take much winning, she was placed on the all weather surface at Wolves and Derby winner Adam Kirby takes the ride.
Winner - (3) Vitalline @11/8f [Hollie Doyle].

19:45  Try Our New Super Boosts At Unibet (London Mile Series Qualifier) Handicap
1m  [Class 4  8 runners]

The mile qualifier sees Colonel Faulkner [Won @15/8f] reappear, a winner at Deauville and then Lingfield last time out, just getting up on the line that day. Hollie Doyle retains the ride, and is only 3lb higher, comes fast and late and should have more races at this sort of level. Love Dreams [3rd @14/1] has the most experience here, was campaigning off marks in the 90s and now only 75 today still has the talent to win and ought to be placed at least.
Winner - (4) Colonel Faulkner @15/8f [Hollie Doyle].

20:15  Unibet 3 Uniboosts A Day Fillies' Handicap

7f  [Class 5  8 runners]

Byzantia [4th @10/1] signed off last season with a victory at Southwell but has tried turf and different trips for a new stable this season with no joy, back to 7f now here and she's worth a chance in a small race. While Sayifyouwill [5th @10/3] won a similar looking contest here in June, has plenty of experience and would not be too surprised if she wasn't in the frame again with jockey Rhys Clutterbuck taking off another 5lb. 
Winner - (3) Crystal Casque @7/4f [Angus Villiers].

20:45  Unibet Casino Deposit 10 Get 40 Bonus Handicap (3yo)
1m 3f 219y  [Class 5  6 runners]

Just the seven 3yo runners for our finale tonight, headed up by Countessa [Won @7/2] a last time out winner at Lingfield on the soft turf, similar trip but different going will see how she speaks in the market. Dolphin [2nd @10/3] is a Sea the Stars filly trained by Roger Charlton ran on for third over this trip at Leicester in her first handicap and ought to have learnt a fair bit there needs to race up a little closer to the place to strike. Also interested in Ladywood though Mark Johnston's runner having run up a sequence of three wins earlier in the year has been finding things tougher of revised ratings, but in a small field here could be worth a look in the place market too. [finished 3rd @11/1 but with only six runners tonight just missed out]

Winner - (1) Countessa @7/2 [N Callen]

Staked -- 8 points.       Returns -- 7.375 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. Our winning start to 2021 has returned and we are now back in the black to the tune of +31.555 points to a level stake at SP coming into our 21st meeting. Couple of winners tonight but a small loss of -0.625 means we have a profit of +30.93 points to carry through to the next meeting here next week.

Lays -- 23/30 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. These continue to go quite well given we are half way through the year, and they are generally very short prices, including two beaten favourites last time. The plan will be for at least one or two each meeting and we will keep those results separate from the handicaps. Got tonight's selection beaten so our stats move onto 24/31.

Tonight's Lay Selection(s);

18:45 - El Hibri  [7f 2yo Novice Stakes]. Lost 2nd @5/2

We will have another midweek floodlit meeting here on Wednesday 25th August so keep well and hopefully we can have a successful 2021.

🏇 PONTEFRACT HORSE RACING SYSTEM - 2021 SEASON - MEETING #11 15th AUGUST

PONTEFRACT SEASON 2021.

Welcome to this our eleventh meeting of the 2021 season taking place on Sunday 15th August. 

1st race 2.00pm.
Going: Good to firm [Good in places]

Tickets are now being sold for future events and selling quickly, it will be nice to see a big attendance at courses around the country for the summer. Under the current ‘roadmap’, the racing here will see (limited) numbers of spectators returning to Pontefract for this Sunday afternoon meeting on 15th August. For as long as social distancing remains in place, however, the ‘normal’ raceday remains some way in the future. With all ‘essential workers’ (BHA and Racecourse officials, stable staff, trainers, jockeys etc) having to undergo health screening before each raceday, and then having to be kept at least 2m away from owners and (when admitted) other racegoers, these restrictions effectively rule out any use of the Main Stand, and parts of the Second Stand, by the general public. Indeed two of the dining rooms in the Main Stand have been transformed into changing areas for jockeys to ensure that they are able to maintain social distance.

The following is a quote from the official Pontefract Racing site 'A limited number of tickets for the following race meetings are now on sale:

* Sunday 15th August – 3 enclosures (Premier, Grandstand & Paddock and Picnic)

Tickets for September and October meetings will also go on sale after the government announcement of an ease to restrictions.

Our final Family Day of 2021 on Sunday 15th August will be run once again as The In The Zone Raceday.

We are setting up zones around the Enclosures to offer racegoers the chance to engage with and learn a little more about different parts of the industry:

• The Jockey Zone – pre register for an ex- jockeys take on how to ride Ponte. Walk the last 6 furlongs at 11.30am (numbers limited). To register, either give us a call on 01977 781307 or send an email.
• The Industry Zone – Behind the Scenes Tour in the Weighing Room from 12.30pm – 12.45pm (numbers strictly limited)
• The Horse Zone – Join the ex racehorses during a parade of ex racers from 12.45pm – 1pm
• The Quiet Zone – Enjoy a free tea or coffee with us while you read the Racing Post and sort out your selections. Peace and quiet between 12.30pm and 1pm in the Betting Hall
• The Newcomers Zone – Meet our ‘Here to Help’ team who’ll show you around and explain how an afternoon at the races works. Join us on the Marquee Site – 1.00pm
• The Tipster Zone – Listen to the expert Punters Panel in the Winners Enclosure at 1.30pm
• The Kids Zone – Enjoy the Kids zone throughout the afternoon in the Picnic Enclosure.

Onto the racing itself and the highlight of our final Family Day of 2021 is the EBF Highfield Farm Flying Fillies Listed contest which is due to go off at 15:10 and worth over £32,000 to the winner. This contest was won last year by Stormy Girl, (pictured above) a first listed event win for trainer Rebecca Menzies and ridden by Cam Hardie. You can guarantee there’ll be some very speedy equine ladies on display. 

ALL results for these fixtures are recorded to a level stake at Starting Price (SP), and will also show any forecast results too in the daily results but these do not count for the profit / loss figures. After a good opening we have seen a few winners but despite this overall after the latest meeting we still have to carry over a deficit of -33.88 points onto this eleventh meeting this afternoon.

Going / Weather: The forecast going is now currently reported as 'Good - Good to firm in places' while the weather for Sunday afternoon is for a generally cloudy day with a high probability of showers but hopefully not too many. We are seeing a forecast maximum temperature around the 21C mark.

Here are our selections for the seven races taking place on Sunday afternoon, remember it's a very simple selection process using stalls one and two in every race;

14:00  Trevor Woods Memorial British Ebf Novice Stakes

5f 3y  [Class 4  4 runners]

(1) -- Where's Diana.  [2nd @15/8]
(2) -- Lady Ardad.  [4th @10/1]

14:35  Mary Clark 'favourite Day Of The Year' Handicap

1m 4f 5y  [Class 3  4 runners]

(1) -- Dash Of Spice.   [WON @11/1]

(2) -- Possible Man.  [2nd @7/4]

15:10  Ebf Stallions Highfield Farm Flying Fillies' Stakes

6f  [Class 1  12 runners]

(1) -- Shuthoor.  [9th @40/1]
(2) -- Double Or Bubble.  [WON @5/4f]

15:45  William Hill Pick Your Places Handicap

1m 6y  [Class 3  4 runners]

(1) -- Duty Of Care.  [WON @2/1jf]

(2) -- Tadreeb.  [4th @2/1jf]

16:20  Moor Top Farm Shop Hemsworth Handicap

2m 1f 27y  [Class 5  7 runners]

(1) -- Stonific.  [5th @9/1]

(2) -- Retrospect.  [4th @11/2]

16:55  Happy Retirement Mick Henshaw Novice Stakes

1m 6y  [Class 4  8 runners]

(1) -- Broughtons Mission.  [2nd @7/1]
(2) -- Maxios Show.  [7th @10/3]

17:25  Queen Night Friday 3rd September Handicap

6f  [Class 5  8 runners]

(1) -- Vardon Flyer.  [8th @14/1]

(2) -- General Sago.  [3rd @4/1]

Staked -- 14 points.

Returns -- 17.25 points.
Having started the 2021 season afresh, we did start reasonably well but sadly begun to fall behind now as we passed half way of this full season on the track. After the opening ten meetings we are sadly -33.88 points behind coming into this eleventh fixture, the results for today will be updated during Sunday afternoon. Three winners securing a profit so far today, didn't pick up any more with the final few races sadly however have at least reduced the losses by a few points to -30.63 points to carry over to the next meeting.

The twelfth fixture here will be held on Friday 3rd September so we do hope you will follow the action throughout the season.

AFC WIMBLEDON vs BOLTON WANDERERS - 1st HOME LEAGUE ONE FIXTURE 2021/22 SEASON [14th AUGUST]

Saturday 14th August 2021 3pm
AFC Wimbledon will host their first home League One game of the 2021-22 season against Bolton Wanderers, and we've fans back in the stadium for a league match this should be some sort of celebration. After a brilliant 2-1 opening day win at Doncaster Rovers we've a chance of back to back wins for the first time since our final Conference League campaign. We also managed to get past Charlton in the EFL Cup on Tuesday night with a Paul Osew goal giving us a 1-0 win at The Valley. Our new signings will surely only get stronger with more minutes on the pitch together and I'm really impressed by Ayoub Assal who will surely continue his rise with more first team action. Looks like we've sold out the stadium during online sales so I expect this to be as near to capacity as can be with some away allocation probably still to take up. Was hoping for some sort of spectacle as it's the first proper Plough Lane 'home' fixture with fans in the league for more than 30 years, but I hear this is more like another 'test' event so we'll just have to sing loud and plan something for another time. 

Recent League One Results
Doncaster Rovers 1 - 2 AFC Wimbledon.
Bolton Wanderers 3 - 3 Franchise FC.

Onto today's game itself this Saturday in League One and our opponents today, Bolton Wanderers, returned to League One after a season in the bottom flight. Alex Baptiste scored an injury time equaliser against Franchise FC in a 3-3 draw last Saturday, the defenders first goal since Jan 2014. They are managed by Ian Evatt who brought Barrow FC into the league, they have plenty of experience and should not be taken lightly, they went on an impressive run to secure promotion and are likely to be one of the fancied teams this season too.

Head to Head

Our head to head form against Bolton Wanderers since our return to the league as AFC Wimbledon is very brief, only four games prior to today and the Dons still seeking their first win against Bolton. Three draws and a defeat back in 2016 so surely now will be a good opportunity to get that first win on the board against them with a packed Plough Lane crowd to cheer us on.

Starting XI's [Confirmed]

AFC WIMBLEDON 

Win Odds - 7/4 [William Hill]

🟨Tzanev (Gk),  🟨Guinness-Walker,  🟨Heneghan,  ⚽Nightingale,  Hartigan,  Alexander,  Woodyard (c),  Rudoni,  McCormick,  Palmer,  🟨Assal

SUBS - Oualah (Gk),  ⚽Mebude,  Kalambayi,  Lawrence,  Marsh,  Chislett,  ⚽Pressley

Bolton Wanderers
Win Odds - 8/5 [William Hill]
Dixon (Gk),  🟨Jones,  Almeida Santos,  Baptiste,  John,  Williams,  Sarcevic (c),  Bakayoko,  ⚽🟨Sheehan,  ⚽Afolayan,  ⚽Doyle

SUBS - Gilks (Gk),  Johnston,  Lee,  Brockbank,  Isgrove,  Kachunga,  Thomason

Selected Bets On This Match;

• Over 1.5 goals in 1st half @5/2.
• Penalty to be awarded and scored @4/1.
• Bookings over 45 points @13/5.
• Over 3.5 goals in match @3/1.

⚽Half Time Score - 1 - 2    [Nightingale 20']  [Doyle 23' [pen], Sheehan 27']

First Half Comments;

Dons get us underway at Plough Lane to a roar from the packed stands, and doesn't that feel good again. We get on the attack immediately winning the opening corner, one day we'll make these count but not this time. Cheye Alexander has the first effort on goal for the home side but it's blocked, good to see us having a go though. The breakthrough comes for the Dons on the twenty minute mark as Will Nightingale powers home a header to put has ahead, good to see goals coming from other sources, alas that lead was not to last long as Nik Tzanev brings down Oladapo Afolayan to give Bolton a penalty, the Dons keeper is booked for that too, and the penalty is converted from the spot by Eoin Doyle to level things up. The goals keep coming but sadly for us it's Bolton who score again with Josh Sheehan left footed shot two goals in about four minutes it's 1-2 now. .

⚽Full Time Score - 3 - 3  [Pressley 74' [pen], Mebude 75'][Afolayan 48']

Match Summary;
Given we were 1-3 behind early on in the second half I am happy enough to secure a 3-3 home draw and remain unbeaten this season. Penalties for either side, plenty of cards and action and goals shared around the side. The feeling of being 'home' again at Plough Lane is a nice warm glow inside, and we'll continue to do well with this sort of display. Up the Dons. 

My Man of the Match - Ayoub Assal.

Attendance - 9,000+.  

Today's Referee - Our match referee for this afternoon will be Mr Peter Wright from Merseyside and a recent prospect from the Liverpool County FA responsible for match officials - who owes us as his two games that involved us last season both ended in defeats. His assistants will be Leigh Crowhurst and Andrew Aylott for this special day in our history and the fourth official duties are in the care of Scott Williams.

Next league one fixture;
  vs Gillingham (Home)
  Tuesday 17th August @7:45pm.

KEMPTON PARK HORSE RACING 2021 - MEETING #20 WEDNESDAY 11th AUGUST

Welcome to Kempton Park racecourse a season of evening meetings following the events on a Wednesday night on the all weather flat track under the lights. We will continue blogging throughout 2021 till the end of the year. Started well this season pleasantly still ahead as we reached the latter part of July and now pushing on through August in profit. The ladies won the Shergar Cup at Ascot last weekend and our football season for AFC Wimbledon is up and running with an opening day away trip resulting in a 1-2 victory against Doncaster Rovers, backed that up with a 0-1 victory against Charlton on Tuesday night in the league cup. Nice to be up and running with Bolton Wanderers due to visit Plough Lane on Saturday with a full house expected there. The premier league will get underway this coming weekend and another Pontefract meeting coming up this Sunday also. 

Returning to the horse racing 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. A successful opening first half of the year during 2021 came to an end prior to the last meeting but we secured three good winners (including a 50/1 shot) and now we are back in front with a profit of +39.555 points we will continue to keep a record to SP throughout the season.

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 21/28 (75%) after the latest meeting and we shall see how things progress during the year ahead. 

This week will be our twentieth Wednesday evening meeting of the year. Tonight's meeting we shall now be expecting a six race card with the race card order now altered so that we begin with the seven furlong 2yo Nursery event [17:50], and we'll end at 20:25 with the final handicap over just under 12f.

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 somewhat warmer afternoon and early evening with a serious chance of showers in the forecast and a highest expected temperature of around 23C tonight.

Here are our handicap selections for tonight;

17:50  Racing TV Nursery (2yo)

7f  [Class 6  9 runners]

We now open with the 2yo Nursery event, there's not a lot of early form only maiden and novice runs for most of the field, but given that the Richard Hannon yard are known to have their 2yos handy we will have a look at Isemal [8th @40/1] who's three runs have given her a lowly handicap rating for this, was massively out of her depth at Goodwood last time (125/1 shot) in a class two event there and this is much more her grade. Also worth a second glance is Streak Jazz [7th @7/1] who was placed last time at Lingfield now has James Doyle in the saddle it's a very open nursery which won't take much improvement from any to win of their early handicap rating.
Winner - (9) Thatsthefinest @11/1 [Luke Morris].

19:25  Unibet Casino Deposit 10 Get 40 Bonus Handicap
7f  [Class 4  10 runners]

Mr Trick [9th @12/1] is a 3yo inmate of Richard Hannon and was third in a novice event here last time back in June, was also placed here before and clearly won't mind the track, still rated 83 and expected to be at least in the frame once more. Shall also been having an interest in Prontissimo [2nd @3/1] [Tr. Patrick Owens] another 3yo was runner up at Doncaster on soft going, running on well there at the finish and went down by less than a length. He also did win his maiden here and one of the more likely types off a fair mark.
Winner - (2) Sun Power @12/1 [Angus Villiers].

19:55  Unibet 3 Uniboosts A Day Handicap

1m  [Class 5  9 runners]

The 3yo filly Waleyfa [xx @15/2] [Tr. Owen Burrows]has yet to finish out of the frame on three starts to date, not disgraced when runner up at Leicester to an odds on favourite, this should be within her grasp. While also have a look at Golden Claim [3rd @17/2] [Tr. Ismail Mohammed] who has way more experience than many 3yo's here has course winning form too and only up 4lb from latest of those wins. Stays further, has a decent sire, but still has pace to make them all go over this mile trip. 
Winner - (7) Sharla @22/1 [Nicola Currie].

20:25  Unibet Extra Place Offers Every Day Handicap

1m 3f 219y  [Class 6  9 runners]

We will now end tonight's meeting with a middle distance contest which is headed by Gary Moore's Capricorn Prince [7th @18/1] who was winning a few races during last season and then found the new handicap mark at bit more difficult, but now down 2lb and with a 7lb claimer on board should be right in the mix again. Lucky Draw [8th @5/1] is another to consider here, the 4yo filly returns to the all weather might not have recovered from a fall (unseated rider at Haydock) then ran a week later at Newbury on soft ground over a longer trip which also might have been too far. Has an experienced jockey back on now, better surface, preferred trip and a decent price.

Winner - (8) Heath Rise @10/11f [William Buick].

Staked -- 8 points.       Returns -- _ 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. Our winning start to 2021 has returned and we are now back in the black to the tune of +39.555 points to a level stake at SP coming into our 20th meeting. Few places, but sadly no winners tonight so a wipe out of -8 points. Still leaves us with a +ve balance at SP of +31.555 points to carry on to next week.

Lays -- 21/28 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. These continue to go quite well given we are half way through the year, and they are generally very short prices, including two beaten favourites last time. The plan will be for at least one or two each meeting and we will keep those results separate from the handicaps. Got them both beat again tonight so the stats are now 23/30.

Tonight's Lays;

18:25 - Silk Romance [7f Fillies 2yo Novice].  Lost 2nd @5/2

18:55 - Dubai Hope [7f Fillies Novice].  Lost 3rd @7/4

We will have another midweek floodlit meeting here on Wednesday 18th August so keep well and hopefully we can have a successful 2021.