CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL 2017 -- DAY ONE TUESDAY (CHAMPION HURDLE DAY)

NOT MUCH ROOM TO MOVE IN HERE

OPENING DAY OF THE 2017 CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL, EXPECTING OVER A 250,000 PEOPLE OVER THE FOUR DAYS, AND 65,000+ ON GOLD CUP DAY ITSELF. THE BEST TOP CLASS NH RACING ANYWHERE, AND YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO MOVE FOR IRISH PEOPLE.

CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL– TUESDAY MARCH 14TH 2017
1.30pm 2m 110yds Supreme Novices Hurdle	Supreme Novices Hurdle  Day one, Race one, of the 2017 NH Festival and we're off... Our first bet of the meeting would have been Paul Nicholls inmate MOVEWITHTHETIMES who he was particular keen on during one of the pre festival interviews, and having backed it at around 10/1 last week am annoyed that it's not even declared to run now so already lost.  Willie Mullins had 10 of the five day declarations (26) so will be interested to see how many line up and which ones are selected, he's got 4 left in this today and has the likely fav MELON while his "2nd string" BUNK OFF EARLY shouldn't be far away. Result -- 1st;  LABAIK 25/1.
2.10pm 2m Arkle Chase	Arkle Challenge Trophy This looks like a simple task for the Nicky Henderson star ALTIOR, who baring a fall can take this before being targeted at the next level. So no realistic bet here but if you must have an each way flutter then the odds on FOREST BIHAN could be interesting in the place markets and with 9 runners declared at least there are places on offer.  Result -- 1st; ALTIOR 1/4F.
2.50pm 3m 1f Festival H'cap Chase	Festival Handicap Chase  Just the small matter of 24 runners for this 3m+ chase, and it would be fitting if VINTAGE CLOUDS could win today for this connections having lost Many Clouds recently. GO CONQUER is another with good place form and at 25/1 might be worth a look for Aiden Coleman. Result -- 1st; Un Temps Pour Tout 9/1.
3.30pm 2m 110yds Champion Hurdle	Champion Hurdle  The opening day's feature race is of course the Champion Hurdle and this year we're missing a few of the big guns from recent years but there's still a quality field. Now headed by YANWORTH who landed the Christmas hurdle at Kempton in good style beating The New One who will re-oppose here again today. I have been following FOOTPAD since last year and this dual french winner could be a good price (16/1) with Ruby Walsh booked for this event. Not many Mullins /Walsh runners at that price and has a chance. Result -- 1st;  Buveur D'air 5/1.
4.10pm 2m 4f Mares Hurdle	"David Nicholson" Mares Hurdle (2m 4f) The Mares Hurdle is a Grade 2 hurdle run over run over two miles and about four and a half furlongs. It is open to mares only, aged five and above and has been won for the last 8 years by Willie Mullins, should have been renamed the QUEVEGA Mares Hurdle but carries the name of the late David Nicholson.  LIMINI looks a likely banker to give his trainer another win, though support for APPLES JADE would be interesting.  Result -- 1st; APPLES JADE 7/2.
4.50pm 4m NH Chase (Amateur Riders)	Toby Balding National Hunt Handicap Chase (4m) The National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup is a Class B chase run over four miles. It is the oldest race at the festival and is open to novices aged five years old and upwards, all horses are ridden by amateur jockeys who have to be Category B (Britain) and Category C (Ireland) riders to take part in the race.  We have a field of 18 declared where our selection will be BEWARE THE BEAR for whom Sam Waley-Cohen is booked to ride.  Also worth a look and an absolutely massive price (66/1) is WHAT A MOMENT, who has won over 3m+ and has a decent Amateur jockey booked. The Pipe yard are known for a bit of a gamble and this might just be over priced now back on better ground. . Result -- 1st; TIGER ROLL 16/1.
5.30pm 2m 4f Centenary Novices Chase	Centenary Novices Handicap Chase (2m 4f) Our finale on the opening day is a novices chase over 2 1/2 miles, where we have a field of 20 declared. Might be favourable to find something in form as it's not much of a handicap at the weights but the likes of MIXBOY and CAPTAIN REDBEARD should be considered in their current form although both are up in the weights as a result.  The Irish challange will be strong but again at decent odds the ALL HELL LET LOOSE and support would be interesting. Result -- 1st TULLY EAST 8/1. Enjoy your Cheltenham Festival this week.

GOOD LUCK
RESULTS SHOULD APPEAR DURING THE COURSE OF THE AFTERNOON

KEMPTON PARK RACES 2017 -- WEDNESDAY NIGHTS #7 8th MARCH

Our seventh week into the 2017 season here at Kempton and after another losing Wednesday evening a few weeks ago we come here with Cheltenham on the horizon looking to get back on track once more. 

Last week was a bit of a blow having lost another 7 points but we do still find ourselves in front for 2017 and it's a satisfactory start to the year which can still develop into a successful season. We will aim to improve on the success recording bets from all the handicap contests held on the Wednesday evenings and the occasional lays too.

All our results will be recorded to SP and having ended the last year on a profit we started off the first few weeks with a steady but small win before the latest meeting setback which now means our current position of +1.25 points. 

As always our focus will be on the handicap contests for each meeting but will occasionally include a feature listed or conditions event too. Keeping records of our endeavours to a 1pt level stake at SP, naturally we will personally be looking to get better odds but for the purpose of the results we record to SP.

We will keep up with our occasional lay opportunities of short priced favourites too, once again will keep these results separately from the handicap figures. We managed to pick up our first losing Lay bet last time, so at least off the mark there.

This week is our seventh meeting for 2017 and we are expecting a seven race card tonight with the division of the 1m 4f contest. Overall that gives us six handicap contests to review. This evenings action will commence at 17:45 with a Class 2 handicap. 

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

The going on the polytrack surface is described as Standard to slow once more and the current weather forecast is for a showery day with a max temperature of about 12C when the meeting gets underway and looks likely to remain cold with scattered showers due throughout the evening.

Here are our selections for this evenings 6 handicap races;

17:45 -- 1m 2f Handicap.
We kicking off this weeks events with a class 2 contest which is a big step up from the usual low grade stuff we've had recently. Just the six runners declared and we side with Jamie Osborne's runner OUR CHANNEL [5th 4/1] a dual course and distance winner is also the highest rated in the field.

18:15 -- 6f Handicap.
Straight back to earth and this is the usual standard fare for Wednesday nights here, 12 declared for the 6f sprint, a low draw should be ok so it's COMPTON PRINCE [4th 12/1] and ATHASSEL [WON 7/2] our pair against the field. 

18:45 -- 1m 4f Handicap (Div 1).

This handicap has been divided into two equally poor events, anything to fleece the poor punter, and will take the pair of ALI BIN NAYEF [6th 9/2] with TED'S BROTHER [5th 5/1] against the rest of this poor bunch. 

19:15 -- 1m 4f Handicap (Div 2).

No better than the first division so once more we side with a pair of decent priced competitors against the field, these will be SIR JACK [9th 12/1] and FRANKIE [5th 20/1]. 

20:15 -- 1m Handicap.

Yet another boring low grade handicap, getting fed up with these now, don't really care who wins, but will pick out RISING SUNSHINE [5th 14/1] and JUST FAB [9th 20/1] more in hope that they are the best of a bad bunch than anything else. 

20:45 -- 1m Apprentice Handicap (London Mile Series Qualifier).

Our finale for this week is for the apprentice jockeys and another of the series for the London Mile event. Where RAVENHOE [5th 16/1] and RED COSSACK [9th 12/1] represent our pair against the field in what might be the most competitive event on the card. 


Staked -- 11 points
Returns -- 4.5 points. 

Results for this meeting will be updated throughout the evening and after a couple of losses we looking to get back into the swing of things though still slightly ahead on +1.25 points. Lost 6.5 points tonight so down -5.25 points.

Lays -- 3/5. Two from Two Tonight;
1) We'll take on MANSON in the 17:45 contest, is forecast 11/10F which could be too tight in a small field where we already favour the chances of Our Channel. [LOST 3rd 11/10F]

2) In the maiden event at 19:45 HOLD SWAY will be short odds to beat off his 12 opponents and chances are that this newcomer might need the experience although he's clearly well bred and this won't take much winning but at the price must be opposed. [LOST 2nd 7/4F]




Our next Wednesday evening meeting at this course will be on 22nd March so see you in a couple of weeks.

2016/2017 LEAGUE ONE SEASON -- BOLTON W vs AFC WIMBLEDON KO 3PM

This weekend AFC Wimbledon travel to Bolton Wanderers in League One at the Macron Stadium (formerly the Reebok, how times change when the stadiums change as often as the teams away strip).

Bolton were pre-season favourites for League One having suffered relegation from the Championship last term, they are currently residing in 4th place in the table after 33 matches played, 59 points so far and no real surprise if they were to put together a lasting push for promotion. Their last league fixture was against Bristol Rovers where they only managed a 1-1 draw which also included a red card for Chris Long.

Wombles are in 12th place, becoming safe in mid-table after back to back wins this week the latest being against 2nd place Scunthorpe United on Tuesday. For our first season in league one this sort of consolidation is fine and for me personally anything above the bottom four would be a wonderful season. 

We shall update on Saturday before kick off with the confirmed starting XI for both sides and any further news as it comes available. 

Line Ups (Confirmed);

  AFC WIMBLEDON 
  Odds -- 3/1 (William Hill) 

Shea (Gk),  Meades,  Nightingale,  Bulman,  Robinson (c),  Francomb,  Reeves,  Elliott,  Poleon,  Soares,  Charles

Subs – McDonnell (Gk), Parrett,  Fitzpatrick,  Kelly,  Barnett, Taylor,  Robertson.

BOLTON WANDERERS
Odds -- Evens (William Hill) 


Alnwick (Gk),  Dervite,  Beevers,  Vela,  Madine,  Osede,  A Taylor,  Morais,  Wheater (c),  Thorpe,  Le Fondre
  
Subs –  Howard (Gk),  Moxey,  Soloman-Otabor,  Clayton,  Henry,  Wabara,  Wilkinson




H/T Score – 1 - 1.

First Half Comment;
A busy opening 45 mins with plenty of corners being exchanged before Bolton nailed one to take the lead on 15 mins. Gary Madine burying a header from a corner to put the trotters one up. James Shea has made a few saves and the Dons attack with some set plays of their own and eventually get a well earned equaliser on 39 mins when Tom Elliott headed into the bottom corner.

As Paul Robinson heads over in injury time it's all square as the half comes to a close. 1-1 all the play for.

F/T Score – 1 - 1.

Match Summary;
Good effort against another of the top sides but just couldn't find another goal to secure a great win, still it continues our revival and unbeaten run grows, with the scum losing too I think we'll be ok in mid table for this season and on this showing it's a huge improvement once again. 

Nothing much to report in the game, but an attendance figure of over 13,500 for a division three match is impressive.

My Man of the Match – James Shea.

Referee -- Our Referee for this weekends game will be Dean Whitestone and he hails from Northamptonshire (dangerously close to the Mk Scum).

He was in charge of our excellent 5-1 beating of Bury earlier in the season but seems very card happy though only the one red. Probably be a stop start game which might suit us more than Bolton.

Attendance – 13,599 (great gods, and over 470 from Wimbledon).

Next match:
Saturday 11th March vs Northampton (Home)