KEMPTON PARK RACES 2016 -- WEDNESDAY NIGHTS #11 16th MARCH

Last week we dropped a couple of points to take us back to Square One and Level again for the season, yes it does almost feel like we are starting again 3 months in. Although with the places still going in and the lay bets also still losing (or winning, depending on your view) things are actually on the up. This week is of course very busy with the Cheltenham Festival on too, and those four days are being covered on this blog, but we will remain here at Kempton on the Wednesday evenings and trying to push on with our search for profits.

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.

There will also be the occasional lay opportunity of short priced favourites and as a result of yet another successful lay last week we have a success rate of 5 from 5. Results for this will be kept separately too and hopefully we can remain at 100% for a while.

This week there's a 7 race card on offer, 6 are handicaps and we get under-way at 18:05 with a 1m 4f contest.

Here is a link to the evenings race card;
http://www.sportinglife.com/racing/meeting/kempton-park/16-03-2016/fast-cards

Our first race tonight gets under way at 18:05 it's a handicap over mile and half. The going on the polytrack surface as usual is described as Standard and we'll update the weather later though the forecast is for a sunny day but will drop to a low of just 1C in the evening.

As it's a busy week and I've got to look through Cheltenham I'm just going to have time to put the selections for tonight's handicap events, might be able to update later on;


18:05 -- 1m 4f Handicap (Div 1).
PEEPS (4th 9/1) / MUNSARIM (10th 20/1).


18:40 -- 1m 4f Handicap (Div 2).
GOLLY MISS MOLLY (2nd 5/2) / IRONDALE EXPRESS (9th 33/1).


19:10 -- 1m Handicap.
ZED CANDY GIRL / BRIDGE BUILDER.
(Both are now reported as Non Runners.)

20:10 -- 7f Handicap.
WINK OLIVER (8th 20/1) / SEEK THE FAIR LAND (NR).


20:40 -- 6f Handicap (3yo).
PRINCESS COOKIE (NAP) (8th 11/4F).


21:10 -- 6f Handicap.
DIAMOND CHARLIE (10th 8/1) / MAJOR VALENTINE (7th 7/1).


Staked -- 11 points
Returns -- 3 points (3 NRs so far).

Loss c/f to next meeting -8 Points

Lays -- 5/5 (Still 100%, none for tonight).

Not a good evening for us, down 8 points with no sign of a winner, at least Cheltenham is fairing better and we'll complete that before looking ahead to the next meeting here.

CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL 2016 -- DAY TWO WEDNESDAY (CHAMPION CHASE DAY)

DODGING BULLETS LAST YEARS CHAMPION CHASE WINNER

CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL – WEDNESDAY MARCH 16th 2016
1.30pm 2m 110yds Supreme Novices Hurdle	Neptune Investments Novices Hurdle  And we’re off…for day two.  The opening novice hurdle see's Willie Mullins with a very strong hand as he saddles just over a third of the field here, and his YORKHILL looks the pick with Ruby Walsh riding.  At a big price I will also look to follow VIGIL (25/1 ew) for Dermot Weld.  Result --  1st : YORKHILL 3/1
2.10pm 3m RSA Chase	Royal Sun Alliance Chase Almost a surprise to find a Grade 1 race without a Willie Mullins fav, but here we have just that, MORE OF THAT and NO MORE HEROES make up the majority of the market and are tough to split.  Personally going to oppose both and try VYTA DU ROC instead for Nicky Henderson.  Result -- 1st : BLACKLION 8/1
2.50pm 2m 5f Coral Cup Hurdle	Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle A massive field of 26 runners here so good luck, I will have to be on BROTHER TEDD for old times sake but ones with a real chance are BLOOD COTIL for Willie Mullins and POLITOLOGUE for Paul Nicholls.  But with such a huge field everyone is going to need a bit of luck in running I feel.  Result -- 1st : DIAMOND KING 12/1
3.30pm 2m  Champion Chase	Queen Mother Champion Chase Today's feature event the Queen Mum Champion Chase has last years winner Dodging Bullets back to defend his title and will have to be on tip top form as there are multiple former winners here in opposition.  Sire de Grugy, Sprinter Sacre have come back to something near their best but all of these are going to surely struggle to reel in UN DE SCEAUX if he stands up.  While I expect the odds on fav to win, if he's got a weakness then I hope that one of Dodging Bullets or Special Tiara can capitalize.  Result -- 1st : SPRINTER SACRE 5/1
4.10pm 3m 7f XC Chase	Cross Country Steeple Chase (3m 7f) Many regular faces here over this unique course, a real test of jockey and horse and ANY CURRENCY is a standing dish and should be backed in the place markets at the least.  (YES WINNER 11/1) Of the rest nothing really appeals and they are in the main getting on a bit but perhaps a case can be made for BLESS THE WINGS who has a rider capable of going well around here and at 25/1 worth a punt win/place. (3rd 33/1) Result -- 1st : ANY CURRENCY 11/1
4.50pm 2m Juvenile Handicap Hurdle	Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (2m) 22 runners, it's not getting any easier.  Our two against the field will be JALEO who has been well touted up by his trainer for this, and VOIX DU REVE for the team that can do little wrong this week. Wide open contest so best of luck in running  Result -- 1st : DIEGO DU CHARMIL 13/2
5.30pm 2m Champion Bumper	Weatherbys Champion Bumper (2m) A race that has been dominated by the Irish trainers which is no real surprise when the likes of Willie Mullins saddles a near third of the entire field. (7 from 24 declared) His best seems to be AUGUSTA KATE and does receive a 7lb weight allowance too.  Of the home group it's BALLYANDY and HIGH BRIDGE that should give us a good run for our money. Result -- 1st : BALLYANDY 5/1 ENJOY YOUR CHELTENHAM EXPERIENCE

Results will appear during the afternoon and Thursday's card will be  available soon. 

CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL 2016 -- DAY ONE (CHAMPION HURDLE DAY)

CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL– TUESDAY MARCH 15th 2016
1.30pm 2m 110yds Supreme Novices Hurdle	Supreme Novices Hurdle  And we’re off…and no shocks to see most races have plenty of fancied runners from Willie Mullins, here he's got MIN / BELLSHILL amongst the front of the market where the home challenge comes from Nicky Henderson ALTIOR .  We will side with ALTIOR here in the opener. .  Result -- 1st;  ALTIOR 4/1 -- a great start to the festival.
2.10pm 2m Arkle Chase	Arkle Challenge Trophy DOUVAN is a very short price for this already and will surely only need to jump safely to win, Is priced up about 1/3F so doesn't appeal as a betting medium, and with only 7 runners it's making an EW selection tricky.  In a race I'd rather watch than play I will suggest a small bet on SIZING JOHN from a yard how to place a decent type around here.  Result -- 1st; DOUVAN 1/4F. No shocks there, but we picked up the place on Sizing John 2nd 9/1 .
2.50pm 3m 1f Festival H'cap Chase	Festival Handicap Chase  24 declared for this handicap chase, a race where many could run well and place but picking the winner could elude us even with a dozen selections.  SOUTHFIELD THEATRE looks a big price at 25/1 and should stay around here with a place a good result. Another in good form and looks a good place bet is BEG TO DIFFER and we'll aim to back both these to win/place. Result -- 1st; UN TEMPS POUR TOUR 11/1.
3.30pm 2m 110yds Champion Hurdle	Champion Hurdle  A shame that injury prevents last years winner Faugheen from attempting a repeat win but Willie Mullins can still call on the likes of ANNIE POWER / NICHOLS CANYON.   Of the home challenge it's THE NEW ONE and MY TENT OR YOURS, the former has not really hit top class and I'm going to side with the Henderson inmate today at 9/1 Result -- 1st;  ANNIE POWER 5/2F. We did manage the place with My Tent or Yours but the winner goes to Ireland.
4.10pm 2m 4f Mares Hurdle	"David Nicholson" Mares Hurdle (2m 4f) We've 20 runners declared and an Even Money fav with VROOM VROOM MAG from the all powerful Mullins / Walsh partnership.  That's too short for us here so we'll look for a decent EW option, and for me FLUTE BOWL should run well, has already won a couple of the qualifiers for this event and the Moore yard know a thing or two. Is priced at 33/1 and I think that's better value than the short fav.  Result -- 1st; VROOM VROOM MAG 4/6F.
4.50pm 4m NH Chase (Amateur Riders)	Toby Balding National Hunt Handicap Chase (4m) 20 Amateurs line up next, this is going to take some getting too and not a race for the feint hearted.  VICENTE comes from the Paul Nicholls yard and looks fairly reliable as a jumper and comes with a good experienced jockey on board as a bonus. Is priced about 16/1 so worth a play win/place. 5th 14/1 Also at a much bigger price I like the Mick Channon trained VIVA STEVE who appears about 66/1 in the markets and has placed before at a nice price for us. 8th 66/1 Result -- 1st; MINELLA ROCCO 8/1.
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, bit of an uninspiring ante climax really but competitive all the same with another 20 lining up in front of the starter. WILLOWS SAVIOUR Fell 10/1 and DOUBLE SHUFFLE 3rd 8/1 are our selections against the field in the last on day one. Result -- 1st BALLYALTON 12/1 Enjoy your Cheltenham Festival this week.

GOOD LUCK
RESULTS SHOULD APPEAR DURING THE COURSE OF THE AFTERNOON