Welcome to end of June and with the 2018 World Cup underway and what with England winning matches life is good. Royal Ascot has been and gone for another year so the suits can go back to Moss Bros and the sunshine is back out too. The World Cup will keep us busy with games against Belgium and whoever in the next round during the coming week In the meantime this blog will continue to follow 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 twelve. 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 twelve, and as we head towards the the half way stage of the year we sadly find ourselves down -42.175 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 slightly better situation but we need some winners soon and 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 but a successful lay last week means we are currently 7/12 going forwards with these for 2018.
This Wednesday is meeting number twelve for the 2018 season and we are expecting a seven race card tonight with six handicaps to enjoy the action will commence at 17:40 with an Apprentice Handicap over seven furlongs for three year old horses only.
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 26C by the time the meeting gets underway.
Here are our handicap selections for tonight;
17:40 -- 7f Apprentice Handicap (3yo).
A difficult race due to it's low level of rated horses and also that the jockeys have their own inexperience, even so something has to win and that could well be TWICKENHAM [7th 13/2]. who will appreciate this level of company and his 3lb claiming jockey might just be enough.
This would also apply to the Richard Hughes trained NOTEWORTHY [2nd 4/1] who has been getting the hang of things in handicap company now and given a chance to take that first win.
19:10 -- 7f Fillies Handicap.
Not a great contest again and probably best to focus on the few winners in this line up as the more likely ones, so will pair ANGEL'S ACCLAIM [10th 10/1] and VIXEN [WON 8/1] against the field.
The former has won on the AW at Newcastle and the latter has won at Salisbury but last two runs have been around this track and might be able to cope.
19:40 -- 1m Handicap.
Slightly better grade and more experience on show here, nearly everything has won at some point in it's lifetime and picking the winner isn't easy. While ZAIN STAR [3rd 7/1] is one of those without a win his 5lb claimer (Joshua Bryan) means this mark is very winnable and at 16/1 looks good price.
HEDGING [10th 10/1] looks another to follow, a winner on both AW and around courses like Brighton so adaptable and trip should be within compass.
20:10 -- 1m 2f 219yds Handicap.
A max field of 14 here with some of the top stables represent too, the likes of KARAWAAN [9th 9/2] (Sir Michael Stoute), DAWN CHOIR [5th 7/1] (Roger Charlton) are two to be interested here market support should also be noted.
At a fancy EW price RYDAN [12th 25/1] is a course and distance winner also been keeping better company than this so has a squeak tonight.
20:40 -- 1m 7f 218yds Handicap.
Another 14 declared for our finale, looks very open so will side with a pair against the field in KATIE GALE [4th 8/1] and KNIGHT COMMANDER [13th 16/1]. Should give us a run for our money tonight ... Good luck
Staked -- 10 points.
Returns -- 9 points.
Results will appear here later on Wednesday night. We seek to recover from our current deficit of -42.175 points. One winner, lost 1 point so we now up to -43.175.
LAYS -- 7/12 if we have one or two Lays tonight they will be updated here also. One win One lose, 8/14 now.
Tonight's Lays;
Spirit Kingdom (18:10) WON 13/8F.
Hard Forest (18:40) Lost
Our next meeting here at Kempton Park will on Wednesday 4th July so see you then.
