KEMPTON PARK FLOODLIT HORSE RACING 2022 - MEETING #1 WEDNESDAY 5th JANUARY

Welcome to Kempton Park racecourse as we begin 2022 with a fresh season of Wednesday evening meetings on the all weather flat track under the lights. We had a decent 2021 here on these Wednesday nights with a profit for the year to SP and shall aim for further success in 2022. New Year away from the racing we haven't had much football to go and see as AFC Wimbledon opponents are full of covid and cancelling games as a result, we are looking ahead to next weekend and the FA Cup third round tie against Boreham Wood while elsewhere making plans for some days out and events.

Returning to the horse racing all results here will be 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. Last season saw an overall profit for the year to the tune of +25.465 points to SP. We will continue to keep a record to SP throughout the season again starting from today.

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 38/52 (73.07%). We shall reset everything for the new year so that 2022 will begin afresh as it should be. Hopefully we will have another successful season from January - December.

This week will be our 1st Wednesday evening meeting of the year. Tonight's meeting will now begin earlier than expected with an eight race card to enjoy, we will still have four handicaps tonight. We will begin late in the afternoon with our opening race which will now commence at 15:55 with the opening handicap on our card run over six furlongs, then we should end the card around about 19:30 with the final contest a 1m 2f+ classified event.

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 cloudy afternoon and early evening while the temperature is not likely to get much higher than around 6C tonight.

Here are our handicap selections for tonight;

15:55  Unibet Amateur Jockeys' Handicap
6f  [Class 4  7 runners]

Our first handicap event is for amateur jockey's with a relatively small field of eight, led by recent Newcastle winner Nigel Nott who if turned out again since Sunday will have a 5lb penalty for that win but offset by his jockey's claim. Lord P (3rd @8/1) is interesting too a dual turf winner last year returns for an all weather campaign while Airshow proved to be more of a Bath specialist and this might be too much despite his consistency. I will have Tyger Bay (2nd @3/1) instead as my second selection here, winner here last year, best of the jockey's available and 8/1 a decent price.

Winner - (3) Airshow @10/3  [Mr P Millman].

16:30  Unibet Extra Place Offers Every Day Handicap

7f  [Class 6  12 runners]

This race is confined to three year olds, a big field and headed by Judy's Park who is still yet to win so will look elsewhere here. Kensington Agent (4th @18/1) (A Carroll) has at least managed to have won a race and could score again, as well as Gypsy Lady (11th @22/1) (Ian Williams) a winner at Chelmsford then outclassed in the Albany Stakes at the Royal meeting but this is as low as it gets really.

Winner - (10) Small Print @17/2  [D Tudhope].

18:00  Racing Tv Handicap

7f  [Class 6  14 runners]

Covert Mission [Won @5/2f] ran here last time out, fifth that time in a bunch finish and couple of pounds lower today so worth another chance in this company. Magininthemaking [7th @8/1] is now an 8yo mare, winner here before but not for a little while, though now down to a manageable mark too. All weather regular Rania could run another good race in this grade but the four year old filly tends to find at least one too smart for her and seems too short in the market again.

Winner - (2) Covert Mission @5/2f  [Daniel Muscutt].

19:00  Unibet Casino Deposit 10 Get 40 Bonus Handicap

1m  [Class 3  8 runners]

Hafeet Alain [2nd @9/4f] ran his best race for a while when runner up at Wolves last time out in a similar contest, should have company up front from La Tihaty [Won @6/1] and Roger Varian's 4yo colt a dual winner last January but not seen since has low miles on the clock and could have a future in handicaps this season. If all eight stand their ground might also have an interest in Motawaafeq at a price in the place markets.
Winner - (3) La Tihaty @6/1  [Jefferson Smith].

Staked - 8 points.       Returns - 10.5 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 nice start all round in week one as the selections make a small 2.5 point profit to SP and both lays were also successful. Onto week two next...

Lays - Last season the lays resulted 38/52 a fairly good effort again given that the vast majority are short prices/favourites.

Starting again for the new year and looking for another good season with the lays, aiming at favourites and not afraid to take on short odds on shots too.  Good start to 2022 with both lays finishing as runners up. 2/2

The plan will be for at least one or two each meeting and we will keep those results separate from the handicaps.

Tonight's Lays;

17:00 - No Diggity  [1m Classified Stakes]. Lost 2nd @2/1

18:30 - Minister For Magic [1m 3f 219y Novice Stakes]. Lost 2nd @5/2

We will have more midweek floodlit meetings in 2022, our second meeting will be held on Wednesday 12th January 2022. Keep well.