2018 NFL LONDON SERIES GAMES ANNOUNCED

The NFL Games in London have been a big success over the last few years and what started out as an experiment is really an established series of fixtures in the regular season calendar. In recent years this was extended to four games here in London at Wembley, Twickenham and we'll soon see another site added when Tottenham Hotspur open their newly revamped White Hart Lane ground. It will be good to have this announced so early and have something to look ahead to once the play offs and Superbowl LII are concluded in the coming weeks.

Here are the confirmed games for 2018, dates will be confirmed later, but as always demand is sure to be high and full houses guaranteed. 

Tottenham Hotspur will host Seattle Seahawks vs Oakland Raiders on 14th October at the redeveloped White Hart Lane.

Wembley Stadium will host games between Philadelphia Eagles against the Jacksonville Jaguars as well as the match between Tennessee Titans and the LA Chargers later in October. Dates to be confirmed later but are expected to be the 21st and 28th October. 


There appears to be only the three games this year instead of the four we used to have and Twickenham is off the calendar I suppose with Spurs having a 10 year deal with the NFL that was to be expected. 

2018 KEMPTON PARK RACES -- WEDNESDAY NIGHTS #1 10th JANUARY

Welcome to a new season for this blog which primarily follows the progress of handicap races on the Wednesday night races here at Kempton Park in Surrey. While last season was not our best by a long way we reset the counters and go again in 2018. There are usually 4-5 handicap races covered and some Lay bets too with separate totals recorded to SP. 


This is week one, last year we covered thirty five evening meetings and also took in the King George VI meeting on Boxing Day. 

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

We will keep up with our occasional lay opportunities of short priced favourites too which wasn't too bad last year with 18 from 28 (64%) short price lays throughout the season. Naturally we will keep these results separately from the handicap figures. 

This Wednesday is meeting number one for the 2018 season and we are expecting a seven race card tonight with four handicaps to enjoy, tonight's action will commence at 16:15 with our first Handicap over 7f.

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

The going on the polytrack surface is described as 'standard' and the current weather forecast for this Wednesday is for a cold yet sunny winters day the top temperature will only be about 8C by the time the meeting gets underway.

Here are our selections for tonight;

16:15 -- 7f Handicap.
A class 7 event to start us off with so nothing outstanding to look at where at least SPARE PARTS [WON 6/4F] has a recent win on the AW to his name and can double up in this weak affair. 

At a decent each way price BINGO GEORGE [Last 10/1] can be considered as he's at least won a contest and has plenty of experience together with a decent jockey too so 20/1 looks interesting.

17:45 -- 1m 2f 219y Handicap.
Another low grade event with a field of 13 lining up for us, nothing truly inspires us but a case can be made for both COLOURFUL CAREER [5th 10/1] and MULLARKEY [7th 11/2] as both are last time out winners and have a several place efforts in their form off similar marks so will take the pair against the field tonight.

18:45 -- 6f Handicap.
ROBBIE ROO ROO [9th 5/1] A dual winner here and available at 16/1 too with Graham Lee a good jockey booking. WHO TOLD JO JO [5th 11/1] is also a dual winner on the flat albeit at Windsor and Ripon off higher marks, has also had a break and hopeful of good showing at a big price.

19:15 -- 1m 3f 219y Amateur Riders Handicap.
Our finale tonight has a field of 11 to peruse, a race for amateur riders where Jamie Osborne saddles EVERY CHANCE [2nd 9/2] who must have every chance tonight is well drawn and has won on the AW tracks with regular places too should be right there. 

ELTEZAM [4th 9/4] is another with a decent chance having been rated in the 100s after his early success and has found that difficult to work from so now rated 80 is entitled to go well too.

Staked -- 8 points.
Returns -- 2.5 points.

Results will appear here later on Wednesday night. Just the one winner and so we start the year with a loss, down 5.5 points to a 1pt level stake.

LAYS -- If we have one or two Lays tonight they will be updated here too.

Tonight's Lays; 0/1
MYTHMAKER -- 18:15 6f Conditions Race (Won 4/1 damn).

Our next meeting here at Kempton Park will be in a couple of weeks time on Wednesday 24th January.

FA CUP 2017-18 FOURTH ROUND DRAW MONDAY 8th JANUARY [BBC 2 7pm]

On Monday night it will be time for the draw to be made for the 4th Round of this seasons FA Cup. After our not so unexpected loss to Tottenham the Dons are no longer in the competition but would be interesting to see who the victors draw all the same.

We will update here on Monday night with the details of the 4th round draw while it's being made  the coverage of which will begin shortly after 7pm and it is shown Live on the BBC2 channel. Mark Chapman our regular host with former players and multiple FA Cup winner Dennis Wise and runner up Rio Ferdinand on hand to perform the draw so good luck to all who remain especially former winners Coventry City who dispatched Stoke City and Newport who beat the mighty Leeds United and Nottingham Forest who knocked out the holders Arsenal over the weekend to progress. 

FA Cup Fourth Round Draw

     Liverpool   v   West Brom

     Peterborough United   v   Fleetwood Town / Leicester City

     Huddersfield Town   v   Birmingham City

     Notts County   v   Wolves / Swansea

     Yeovil Town   v   Manchester United

     Carlisle United / Sheff Wed   v   Stevenage / Reading

     Cardiff City / Mansfield Town   v   Manchester City

     Franchise FC   v   Coventry City

     Millwall   v   Rochdale

     Southampton   v   Watford

     Middlesbrough   v   Brighton / Crystal Palace

     Bournemouth / Wigan   v   Shrewsbury T  / West Ham

     Hull City   v   Nottingham Forest

     Newport County   v   Tottenham Hotspur

     Norwich / Chelsea   v   Newcastle United

     Sheffield United   v   Preston North End

Ties to be played over the weekend of 26th - 29th January and live games to be selected and announced later.