NFL LONDON 2021 GAMES ANNOUNCED

The NFL will return to London in 2021, with two games being scheduled to play at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in October this year, doesn't look like there will be games at Wembley this season but all the right noise at the top level suggest that this will return with more games in Europe planned too. Having missed these games for obvious reasons last year I am pleased to see them return even if it's only two games instead of the four we had become used to. 

2021 NFL International Games
Sunday 10th October
New York Jets @ Atlanta Falcons

Sunday 17th October
Miami Dolphins @ Jacksonville Jaguars
*Both games will be played at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

The Atlanta Falcons will host the New York Jets on Sunday 10th October (14:30 BST) before Jacksonville Jaguars face Miami Dolphins the following Sunday. Hopefully we will hear that both games will be broadcast live in Uk (BBC / Ch5), London has hosted 28 games since 2007, but all of 2020's games were played in the United States due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Jacksonville will return as they had committed to a long spell of London games and are still the franchise most likely to become the permanent London based side (this will happen eventually). Fans will be able to see the first two picks in this year's draft in Jaguars' Trevor Lawrence and Jets' Zach Wilson. "We expect these games to be a celebration of our sport," said Christopher Halpin, NFL executive vice-president - chief strategy & growth officer.

The Jaguars will be playing their eighth home game in London, while the Dolphins will play in the UK for the fifth time, with the Falcons and Jets both appearing in their second London game.

London's calling once again for NFL action and the league is answering with a pair of games in the 2021 season, each of them boasting promising quarterback matchups and top picks from the 2021 NFL Draft class. The 2021 No.1 draft pick, Trevor Lawrence, and the Jaguars will host 2020 No. 5 pick Tua Tagovailoa and the Dolphins. While Lawrence is set for his first trip to play in London, the Jags will play for an NFL-record eighth time in England, their streak of consecutive seasons playing an international game having been snapped at seven due to the coronavirus pandemic. No strangers to international play themselves, the Dolphins are going to England for a fifth time. No. 2 overall pick Zach Wilson and the Jets will play in London for only the second time and the first since 2015 when they play the host Falcons and quarterback Matt Ryan. Like the Jets, the Falcons will be making their second trip across the Atlantic, having previously played in London in 2014. 

Tottenham Stadium, London

Dating back to 2007, the NFL has been venturing to England to showcase games for a growing fanbase. That tradition was postponed like many things during a turbulent 2020, but the NFL is back in London in 2021 and some of the league's brightest young talent is taking centre stage.

The full schedule for the NFL 2021 regular season is set to be released soon.

LINCOLN CITY vs AFC WIMBLEDON - FINAL LEAGUE ONE FIXTURE 2020/21 SEASON [9th MAY]

Sunday 9th May 2021 12:00pm
AFC Wimbledon will play their final League One game of the 2020-21 season away at Lincoln City's LNER Stadium (or Sincil Bank if you are old like me) this weekend safe in the knowledge that another season in League One has been secured with a game to go. Despite the 1-3 defeat last week we managed to stay up once more, and that is great with the new stadium up and running, and the prospect of fans being allowed back in soon, certainly bodes well for next season. We should be able to enjoy this final game, as Lincoln don't really have much to play for either now having secured a play off place but the automatic spots are already determined. As is the tradition now for the final fixtures, all ties are scheduled for Sunday Noon kick off, though most of the important matters are already decided.

Onto today's game itself this Sunday in League One and our opponents today, Lincoln City, find themselves in 5th place in the league on 76 points so are safely in a play off spot they faced a mid week game away at Charlton on Tuesday night however lost that 3-1 so can only consolidate their place in the four play off places now. Managed by Michael Appleton they have plenty of experience and should not be taken lightly, despite not much to play for now, there's pride, performance at stake still.

Most Recent League Games
AFC Wimbledon 1 - 3 Portsmouth

Charlton Athletic 3 - 1 Lincoln City (Tues)

Head to Head
Our head to head form against Lincoln since our return to the league is very brief, only three previous meetings so far equally shared a win each and one draw, our 1-0 win came in the FA Cup while the sole defeat was earlier this season 2-1. While the result today may not feel important given there is little to play for I hope that the team continue to battle and have something to build on for next season.

Starting XI's [Confirmed]

AFC WIMBLEDON 

Win Odds - 13/5 [William Hill]
Tzanev (Gk),  O'Neill,  Kalambayi,  Nightingale,  Alexander,  🟨Dobson,  Woodyard (c),  Rudoni,  Assal,  Pigott,  Palmer

SUBS - Cox (Gk),  Thomas,  Harrison,  Oksanen,  McLoughlin,  Longman,  Guinness-Walker

LINCOLN CITY

Win Odds - 11/10 [William Hill]
Palmer (Gk),  Poole,  Eyoma,  Walsh,  Edun,  🟨McGrandles,  Bridcutt (c),  Grant,  Johnson,  Hopper,  Rogers

SUBS - Long (Gk),  Montsma,  Jackson,  Sanders,  Scully,  Bramall,  Morton

Selected Bets On This Match;

• Over 1.5 goals in 1st half @7/4.
• Penalty to be awarded and scored @7/2.
• Bookings under 35 points @11/8.
• Over 3.5 goals in match @2/1.

⚽Half Time Score - 0 - 0

First Half Comments;

Lincoln get us underway at lunchtime in the final regular season League One game, although Lincoln will have the playoffs to look forward to, the Dons are safe once again. Joe Pigott has the first meaningful shot on target on six minutes but comfortably saved by Imps keeper Alex Palmer. Jack Rudoni tries his luck next but another save, at least we playing with some intent against a strong side. The hosts get into the game more as the half develops, Brennan Johnson having a couple of shots on goal saved by Nik Tzanev and we remain goalless. Conor McGrandle (Lincoln) is the first player to go into the referee's book, not long after that George Dobson follows him for the Dons. Very even half so far and with nothing at stake for us we'll have to settle down, the test events at Plough Lane ought to be more exciting.

⚽Full Time Score - 0 - 0

Match Summary;
Turned into a fairly drab scoreless draw, which means we are in 19th place on 51 points this season. A stalemate in the end with neither side able to break the deadlock, probably a fair result on the day. Though this display was far removed from the thrills and spills of some previous performances under Mark Robinson's management. Next season could be a really exciting campaign when our supporters finally get to watch regular football at our spiritual home in Plough Lane. Now while one eye is turning to the test events and opening to fans of our new stadium the important work is now to get some players on new contracts, and see who else we need. Pleasing efforts in the final few games to secure safety, but more improvement needed next year. 

My Man of the Match - Nik Tzanev.

Attendance - Sadly still no one for the time being. Maybe sometime later this year would be nice, there are test events planned for later this month, then we can celebrate our return to Plough Lane/Wimbledon properly in the 2021/22 season.

Today's Referee - Our match referee for this afternoon will be Mr Scott Oldham, who hails from Lancashire. Last took charge of one of our games in 2019 vs Tranmere, doesn't get his notebook out much averages barely two cards per fixture this season. His assistants are Wayne Grunnill and Lisa Rashid while the Fourth Official on duty will be Paul Stonier.

That's all for this season, will be back for the pre season and 2021-22 season in League One.

KEMPTON PARK HORSE RACING 2021 - MEETING #12 WEDNESDAY 5th MAY

 Welcome to Kempton Park racecourse a season of evening meetings following the events on a Wednesday night on the all weather flat track under the lights. We will be blogging throughout 2021 till the end of the year. Started well this season pleasantly still ahead as we enter May. Last week I celebrated my 52nd birthday but sadly could not attend the Ascot fixture that we usually have pencilled into the diary. Then we saw the first classics of the 2021 season the 2000 Guineas won by Poetic Flare (16/1) trained by Jim Bolger and ridden by Kevin Manning, while the 1000 on Sunday was won by Mother Earth (10/1) trained by Aiden O'Brien and ridden by Frankie Dettori. Away from the horses my team AFC Wimbledon were playing their final home fixture against Portsmouth and despite losing 1-3 we retained our League One status for another season owing to defeats elsewhere for Rochdale and Northampton which saw the pair relegated along with Swindon Town and Bristol Rovers.

Returning to the horse racing all results here are 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. A successful opening four months in 2021 means we arrive here with a +33.68 profit and will continue to keep a record to SP throughout the season.

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 33/49 (67.34%). We reset the counters for 2021 and will be continuing this throughout the year again. Currently standing at 12/16 (75%) after the latest meeting and we shall see how things progress during the year ahead. 

This week will be our twelfth Wednesday evening meeting of the year although sadly it's still being held behind closed doors as we remain locked down as a nation, a roadmap to a more normal life is in progress though. Does appear that the following meeting due to be held on 19th May will have a limited attendance and tickets are selling now for this event. Tonight's meeting we shall now be expecting a seven race card with five handicaps for us to review. Our action will now commence at 17:10 with a five furlong fillies novice event, then we should end the card around about 20:10 with our final handicap for fillies event over six furlongs. 

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 wet afternoon and early evening with regular showers in the forecast but a higher temperature of around 12C tonight - hopefully by the time the next meeting arrives it will begin to warm up for the spectators that will then be in attendance.

Here are our handicap selections for tonight;

18:10  racingtv.com Handicap (3yo)
7f  [Class 5  11 runners]

Our opening handicap is for three year olds, top weight George Scott is a big price but has the benefit of Aled Beech's 5lb claim and isn't out of things. Though SENSE OF ROMANCE has been placed here on two occasions as a 2yo and again should not be too far away on her return to the course. While ARIEL [WON 5/1] wasn't able to get to grips with an easy odds on winner at Newcastle last time out but nothing of that calibre here and another that ought to be in the shake up at a reasonable price tonight.
Result - (7) Ariel @5/1 [K Shoemark].

18:40  Unibet Extra Place Offers Every Day Handicap

7f  [Class 5  10 runners]

Top weight Espresso Freddie has had plenty of good runs here winning back in December but unable to follow up off higher marks, should run a good race but likely to find one or two better handicapped tonight. PAXOS [WON 11/8f] hasn't had much racing and did the job at Chelmsford last time out this looks a similar contest back at Kempton and the yard are in good form so one with chances. 

Elsewhere Right Action will probably find a race again one day but is 66/1 for this and despite his trainers record would be a huge surprise but I might still be tempted to go for a small place bet, while down the bottom of the handicap is RISAALAAT a course and distance winner who was not too far away since then back at this track, was running on late there, and is the second selection against the field for us.

Result - (2) Paxos @11/8f [L Morris].

19:10  Unibet 3 Uniboosts A Day Handicap

7f  [Class 3  6 runners]

Just the six now, with the unbeaten 4yo RANSOM trained by Sir Michael Stoute will probably be a short price and the one to beat, so we shall have to take two against him tonight. Sky Commander (J Tate) would appear to be the one to take advantage if the fav fails to shine, twice a winner on the all weather in five starts should have a big say in the finish but I am going with two longer priced selections. SANAADH (M Wigham) has performed well and despite advancing years still winning in similar grade, as proved at Newcastle back in January, then runner up here. While another 8yo ZHUI FENG (T Ward) has won off marks in the 100s and scored here in February so still has the ability to run well at a decent price.

Result - (3) Tiger Crusade @7/2 [J P Spencer].

19:40  Unibet New Instant Roulette Handicap

1m 7f 218y  [Class 5  8 runners]

Roger Charlton has started to have runners now and his lightly raced 4yo MINISTERIAL should step forward for the new longer trip and is respected after his season opener at Lingfield. While Mick Channon runs the filly SINGLE who is a regular over the staying trips, winner at Salisbury last year, and ran well staying on back at the same course last time out, the extra furlong looks sure to be in her favour.

Result - (7) Blazon @9/1 [L Morris].

20:10  Try Our New Price Boosts At Unibet Fillies' Handicap

6f  [Class 5  4 runners]

The finale is for fillies and has attracted a small field of five, Second Collection [Non Runner] (T: A W Carroll) heads the quintet, the mare having not won for two years is easily overlooked here, THE NOSEY PARKER (T: R Hughes) won twice towards the end of last year and she can perform better than her reappearance in another small field. VIVENCY (T: L Carter) has run here four of her six runs to date and that includes a course victory, should also be close once more.

Miss Thoughtful [Non Runner](T: L McJannet) and Aramis Grey (T. Rae Guest) make up our five here, both were runners up when last seen and off similar marks again might have to settle for the same result here.

Result - (5) Aramis Grey @4/9f [B A Curtis].

Staked -- 10 points.       Returns -- 8.375 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. Our winning start to 2021 continues and these first few months have proved to be successful our overall profit stands at +33.68 pts after meeting #11. We will update tonight's meeting #12 during the course of this evening, couple of winners, and a small loss sadly, -1.625 on the night, but still ahead overall by +32.055 pts. 

Lays -- 12/16 We had a good season last year again with the lays, aiming at favourites and not afraid to take on short odds on shots too. The plan will be for at least one or two each meeting and we will keep those results separate from the handicaps. Sadly the short priced, odds on, favourite won tonight, but that's the risk we take. 12/17

Tonight's Lays;

17:10 Thunder Love [5f 2yo Fillies Novice]. WON 2/5F 

The next midweek floodlit meeting here will be held on Wednesday 19th May so keep well and hopefully we can have a successful 2021.