August is here and the rain has returned too. 😢The Premier League kicked off last weekend too though our season has been going for a while, this week AFC Wimbledon have beaten Portsmouth in the League Cup 2-1 and then face Barnsley away in the League on Saturday. We still unbeaten and yet to concede a goal so far too in this out final season before moving to the new stadium on Plough Lane. 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 not had the greatest first half of the year and are a bit behind now although it's a bit up and down this is past half way and meeting sixteen. 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 sixteen, and as we head into the second half of the year we managed to have a good couple of weeks and take a dent out of the losses to date although we still find ourselves down -31.8 points to SP, would be nice to continue turning this around and there is still a long way to go we need some more 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. 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 11/18 going forwards with these for 2018.
This Wednesday is meeting number sixteen for the 2018 season and we are expecting an eight race card tonight with five handicaps to enjoy the action will commence at 17:30 with a 7f Nursery Handicap run for 2yo horses only.
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 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;
17:30 -- 7f Nursery Handicap (2yo).
Our opening event for 2yo has a max field of 12 declared, don't see any winning form to speak of either so it's almost a maiden handicap in disguise. POT LUCK [5th 7/2] heads the field from the Andrew Balding yard and has been running around the country trying his luck, has been given a rating of only 62 as a result and is partnered by a good 3lb claimer so on the shortlist here.
LIBERTY DIVA [10th 33/1] gets a hefty bit of weight here and another with a good 3lb claimer on board, despite the draw is taken to progress too in a race that will not need much winning.
18:30 -- 6f Nursery Handicap (2yo).
A better grade of 2yo Nursery here and only seven line up which is a shame for the place market option. Top weight QUIET ENDEAVOUR [WON 4/6F] comes here on a roll of three previous wins and will be hard to beat even with the 6lb penalty while in this mood. ALMURR [4th 5/1] could give the fav most to do and has been tried in better company since winning at Newbury.
20:00 -- 1m Handicap (3yo).
A three year old only contest is our next handicap the dozen are headed by EXTRA LARGE [WON 9/4F] which would have to be a bet for me (should be Extra Extra Large though) and in a race that lacks depth could face most threat from the Andrew Balding EXEAT [4th 7/1].
20:30 -- 7f Handicap.
A field of nine now and top weight PEAK PRINCESS looks a bit high in the weights still so will pass over in favour of PERFECT HUSTLER [3rd 6/4F] not been out of the first two in his last five races three of those around here so should be going well at the finish. Bugger top weight won it and we passed on it. Damn hindsight.
DANCE TEACHER [7th 12/1] is the other one to focus on in current form and it's the pair against the field tonight for us with slight preference for Perfect Hustler.
21:00 -- 1m 3f 219yds Handicap.
The longest race of the meeting for the finale with a field of 14 declared, our first selection is ART OF SWING [2nd 8/1] a runner up at Wolves last time over a little further but has run well around here before, Rossa Ryan takes of a handy 3lb too and given a chance at 10/1. Also like the chances of BIRD FOR LIFE [11th 7/2] a multiple winner and place selection around here should again go well for 5lb Claimer Gary Mahon.
Staked -- 10 points.
Returns -- 4.92 points.
Results will appear here later on Wednesday night. We seek to recover from our current deficit of -31.8 points. Missed a winner and therefore lost another -5.08 points tonight, so we are now on -36.88 going forwards.
LAYS -- 11/18 so far, beginning to get them beat now, and if we have one or two Lays tonight they will be updated here also.
Tonight's Lays;
EARLY DAWN [19:00] -- 6th 5/1.
NOMOATHAJ [19:30] -- 4th 3/1.
Two successful lays tonight, now 13/20 going onto next week.
