STILL MISSING YOU MUM Xx 11th JUNE Xx

Another year has passed and the pain has not got any easier. Losing my Mum when I so young, and didn't have the chance to enjoy the best years with both her and Dad may well sound selfish but that's how I honestly feel as the youngest son. And although I didn't show it at the time I've missed you so much and continue to do so each day. 

Also really regret not having more photo's of you Mum, I know that like me never enjoyed having your picture taken anyway, and so I only have these black and white ones of your wedding day though it does make me happy (and sad in equal measure) that you looked so happy and lovely on that special day. 

Many years have passed and you're not here to share my life each day, I feel a sadness in my heart that will not go away.

I remember you no matter how long it's been, and of course losing Dad too has really made me sad that I didn't do more when you were both around.
For when we were together Mum (Dad too) we were as close as we could be and there isn't anyone here who could mean the same to me now. 

The tears that I shed today are for you, for the love you gave me, and for the time we never had together when you were cruelly taken from us all too early. 

You brought me up to respect others, have good manners and be polite, and while I might not have turned out to be the best son in the world at least you gave me a good grounding in life. 

Thank you so much dearest Mum and Dad, my life means very little without you now, I hopefully will see you again soon. 

2018 KEMPTON PARK RACES -- WEDNESDAY NIGHTS #10 6th JUNE

Welcome to June and congratulations to all connections of classic winners FOREVER TOGETHER who won this years Epsom Oaks and MASAR who took the Epsom Derby on the weekend. The latter is a landmark first success for Godolphin in the blue riband event and foils the heavily backed favourite Saxon Warrior (4th). This blog primarily follows the progress of handicap races on the Wednesday night races here at Kempton Park racecourse in Surrey. We've started the year a bit behind now although it's a bit up and down this is only meeting ten. There are usually 4-5 handicap races covered and some Lay bets too with separate totals recorded to SP throughout the year. 

We are ready for week number ten, and as we head towards the the half way stage of the year we sadly find ourselves down -29 points to SP, would be nice to start turning this around and there is still a long way to go but if we had recorded results to the prices taken we'd be in a much better situation, alas we record to starting prices. 

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

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, off to a disappointing start this season though and as the favs are winning we are currently 5/10 going forwards with these for 2018. 

This Wednesday is meeting number ten for the 2018 season and we are expecting a seven race card tonight with five handicaps to enjoy the action will commence at 18:00 with a Novice event for fillies over 6f.

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

The going on the polytrack surface is described as 'standard to slow' and the current weather forecast for this Wednesday is for a warmer day so have a good night without the threat of rain for a change a top temperature will be about 22C by the time the meeting gets underway.

Here are our handicap selections for tonight;

18:30 -- 7f Handicap.
A good field of fourteen for our opening handicap event of the night, interest is with UBLA  [4th 20/1] who will have the assistance of Silvestre De Sousa plus the experience of place form here before and has won on other AW surfaces.

At an attractive price lurks VIXEN  [5th 12/1] off a fairly low mark and lightly raced too, could be the time to catch her fresh on her seasonal debut.


19:30 -- 7f Handicap (3yo).
An open enough contest for three year olds only, and it's the pair of ROBSDELIGHT  [7th 10/1] and TIGHT LINES  [8th 8/1] we pick against the field tonight. They have both won a race around Redcar the former off 3lb higher than today's mark and the latter was runner up last time and runs off the same mark and is worth another shot.

20:00 -- 1m 3f 219yds Handicap.
Another max field for this track and we going for couple of big prices (according to forecast on Monday night) with both PORT DOUGLAS  [10th 20/1] and VIVRE POUR VIVRE  [13th 33/1] trading about 25/1. The former named was a multiple winner in Ireland and rated as high as 111 so could be interesting if there's some glimmer of his old form off 83.

20:30 -- 1m 7f 218yds Handicap.
Our stayers handicap tonight has a field of twelve to sift through you might want to put MASTER ARCHER  [2nd 4/1] in your placepots as his string of 2nds is consistent if not a little frustrating -- runner up again he's going to end up in a seller soon! THE WAY YOU DANCE  [3rd 5/1] has also won off this mark and a winner over hurdles so the trip is no problem and is also given a chance to shine tonight. 

21:00 -- 1m Handicap.
A disappointingly small field of six for tonight's finale, three inform horses to focus on and top weight AL NAFOORAH  [6th 9/2] has been running in higher class races and returned here after ending last season as runner up at Newmarket is of interest but looks the likely favourite.

Another having her seasonal debut is OH IT'S SAUCEPOT  [2nd 8/1] who ran up a hat trick in the summer last year and is another 10lb higher tonight. 

Preference is therefore for HAPPY ESCAPE  [3rd 7/2] who has won three of her last four including two contests here.

Staked -- 10 points.
Returns -- nil points.

Results will appear here later on Wednesday night. We seek to recover from our current deficit of -29 points for the season. A blow out tonight, several places but no winners, sadly moves us to -39 points for the year to date. 

LAYS -- 5/10 if we have one or two Lays tonight they will be updated here also. 

Tonight's Lays;
FINALE - 21:00 (appropriately) LOST now 6/11.

Our eleventh meeting here at Kempton Park will be next week on Wednesday 13th June so see you then.

AFC WIMBLEDON CONFIRMED PRE-SEASON FRIENDLIES 2018

The news office at Kingsmeadow continues in the closed season and while many are away on holiday they've been busy arranging our summer pre-season games. We've some quality home ties and these are enhanced by the news that AFC Wimbledon will take on Brighton and Hove Albion in a friendly match at the Cherry Red Records Stadium.

The match against Chris Hughton's Premier League side is scheduled for Saturday 21 July (3.00 pm kick-off). Following promotion from the Championship, Brighton enjoyed an impressive debut campaign in the top-flight with victory against Manchester United towards the end of the season confirming their place in the Premier League for 2018/19.

This will be AFC Wimbledon's final pre-season home match before the 2018/19 season gets underway. The release of fixtures for the 2018/19 League One season is expected on Thursday 21st June and will also be published here once available.

AFC Wimbledon's confirmed pre-season schedule:

Saturday 7 July – Reading (H)

Tuesday 10 July – Woking (A)

Saturday 14 July – QPR (H)

Saturday 21 July – Brighton (H)

Friday 27 July – Havant and Waterlooville (A)

Saturday 28 July – Boreham Wood (A)