NFL SEASON 2018 -- WEEK ONE FIXTURES PLUS INTERNATIONAL GAMES

The 2018 NFL season starts soon, the 99th season in the history of the National Football League (NFL) will begin with the Kickoff Game on September 6 at 8:20 p.m. EDT. The game will feature the Super Bowl LII champion Philadelphia Eagles hosting the Atlanta Falcons and will be televised on NBC. While many don't understand this sport I've been a big fan since it was first shown regularly on UK Tv (Channel 4) back in the '80s. Can still recall the Bonnie Tyler theme tune ... but I digress, having also been to see games live if you take time to watch the different plays each player has a role and in that respect has similarities to Rugby but of course people just moan about the amount of protection being worn. Hey if you had a 300lb tackle hitting you at speed you soon be reaching for the shoulder pads too. Anyway on with the season, sure helps the weekends and I just wish it was back on one of the UK Free channels as we don't all subscribe to Sky. 

Here are the opening Week One fixtures 
(the away team is named first as is the tradition in most USA Sports);

Week 1

GAME	KICK (ET)	TV
Thursday, September 06, 2018
Atlanta Falcons at Philadelphia Eagles	8:20p	NBC
Sunday, September 09, 2018
Buffalo Bills at Baltimore Ravens	1:00p	CBS
Pittsburgh Steelers at Cleveland Browns	1:00p	CBS
Cincinnati Bengals at Indianapolis Colts	1:00p	CBS
Tennessee Titans at Miami Dolphins	1:00p	FOX
San Francisco 49ers at Minnesota Vikings	1:00p	FOX
Houston Texans at New England Patriots	1:00p	CBS
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at New Orleans Saints	1:00p	FOX
Jacksonville Jaguars at New York Giants	1:00p	FOX
Kansas City Chiefs at Los Angeles Chargers	4:05p	CBS
Washington Redskins at Arizona Cardinals	4:25p	FOX
Dallas Cowboys at Carolina Panthers	4:25p	FOX
Seattle Seahawks at Denver Broncos	4:25p	FOX
Chicago Bears at Green Bay Packers	8:20p	NBC
Monday, September 10, 2018
New York Jets at Detroit Lions	7:10p	ESPN
Los Angeles Rams at Oakland Raiders	10:20p	ESPN

NFL International Series 2018

This International Series has been a huge success over the past few years and with live TV coverage and packed stadiums can surely only continue to grow the sport further in the UK. There continues to be plenty of talk about the potential for a UK Franchise of our own in the NFL and with Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shad Khan trying to buy Wembley Stadium it's surely only a matter of time till this happens. Until then we'll enjoy these games now hosted at Wembley and once they have sorted out their stadium issues hopefully Tottenham Hotspur next season. 

Partially owing to the issues with the new Spurs stadium at White Hart Lane the NFL only agreed to three fixtures this year in UK which have been confirmed as follows;

Wembley Stadium
Sunday 14 October 2018
Seattle Seahawks @ Oakland Raiders 
Sunday 21 October 2018
Tennessee Titans @ Los Angeles Chargers
Sunday 28 October 2018
    Philadelphia Eagles @ Jacksonville Jaguars

This will be the first time the London games will be played on three consecutive weeks, a move the league has taken to try to streamline their London operations.


The season will then play out at Super Bowl LIII which will be held on February 3 2019 at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Who will be there? Can the Eagles defend their title? Can anyone stop New England winning another divisional title, plenty of action, I cannot wait and the games in London are the highlight of my year (unless AFC Wimbledon get promoted lol).

GOOD LUCK IN THE FUTURE CATHY, IT WILL NOT BE THE SAME WITHOUT YOU.

On Friday I had to say goodbye to two wonderful colleagues, in fact my boss Cathy and the IT Director Ken. Been three years, but a lot has happened in that time and I will miss them both in many ways. Was very sad when I found out they were going, but also very happy for them as I understand the reasons for the decision and of course wish them both the best for the future. 

Cathy (left) and Jenny (right) doing the honours.

Our final stand-up meeting featured cake, which was delicious, and lots of humour. There are a lot of people leaving but I will miss these people more than most. It was also lovely to see Jenny back in with her new born baby Alexander who can only be two months old and William too who keeps me sane. What the future holds for the rest of us only time will tell. I really hope I can see these guys again sometime, they are excellent to work with and for, it will be very quiet without them. Good luck Cathy and Ken  ... Bon Voyage !! 

Oh and as a complete surprise although Cathy leaves, I somehow end up with a gift, and it's perfect, I was looking for some cuff-links for some new shirts and this fits my model trains image too. thank you again boss xXx

2018 KEMPTON PARK RACES -- WEDNESDAY NIGHTS #18 29th AUGUST

This is our final meeting for  August and the summer beginning to ease off now with colder spells due. Hope you enjoyed the Bank Holiday break and looking forward to the kids going back to school soon.

Wimbledon starting to fall back now, recent defeats to Walsall and Sunderland last week although West Ham in the League Cup could be fun (Tues Night) which will be shown live on Sky Sports. 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 eighteen. 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 eighteen, and as we push on into the latter part of the year we need to find that winning habit again as we need to recover and take a dent out of the losses to date since we find ourselves down -42.38 points to SP, would be nice to continue turning this around and there is still a fair 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, having a disappointing time with these of late keep on finding winners, this season though means we are currently 13/22 going forwards with these for 2018 and we at least keep accurate figures win or lose. 

This Wednesday is meeting number eighteen for the 2018 season and we are expecting an seven race card tonight with five handicaps to enjoy the action will commence at 17:55 with a 1m Novice Stakes 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 to slow' and the current weather forecast for this Wednesday is for a dark and cloudy day but we can still have a good night even with the threat of rain a top temperature will be about 21C by the time the meeting gets underway.

Here are our handicap selections for tonight, seems to be a 3yo meeting for us tonight;

18:25 -- 1m Handicap (3yo).
A maximum field for our opening handicap and the fourteen declared runners are headed by BOMBASTIC, his first go on an all weather surface and despite being a winner at Haydock from around this handicap mark has been struggling since to repeat that and it would be a wise to look elsewhere. 

Our two selections against the field will be WHITEHALL [7th 9/2] who just failed at Sandown last time and given another go under Ryan Moore along with SHARG [10th 16/1] who was also a runner up recently including here earlier in August so is given another chance to go one better.

19:25 -- 1m 3f 219y Fillies Handicap (3yo).
The fillies handicap for three year olds now where a dozen have been declared, headed by Cheerfully and Mod both on 10st and they'll do well to give that weight away against some who have won around here. 

First selection is JEDHI [WON 10/11F] who has had four runs on the all weather, placed in last three and this trip should be fine given a chance to make a step forward, along with SISTER CELINE [7th 9/1] who has also improved this year for the step up in trip.

19:55 -- 1m 2f 219y Handicap.
THUNDER SPEED [3rd 11/2] has only raced once this year and could go well now with a possible late season campaign on the all weather, we pick him along with PADDY THE CHEF [5th 9/2] the 3yo gets all the weight concession here won last month at Nottingham.

20:25 -- 1m 7f 218y Handicap (3yo).
A disappointing field of only four for this stayers contest, headed by an odds on fav in AFRICAN JAZZ but doesn't look unbeatable here and the race could end up being tactical so a sprint finish might favour one of the others. ZILARA [2nd 7/2] and SASSIE [3rd 11/2] have both won races and if 4/1 or better might be the answer to get the fav beaten 

Not a race I'd get too involved with as the bottom one LAS LOMAS BLANCA looks out of his depth .

20:55 -- 6f Handicap (3yo).
Our finale has a field of twelve ready to line up and NAMPARA [7th 5/1] let us down recently getting disqualified out of the frame when it was last leg of an EW acca (gutted). Having won her previous two outings is given a chance of redemption. 

QUEEN OF DREAMS [11th 5/1] is also included here a regular on the all weather after her debut run and has appeared to improve of late so a small handicap like this could be within her compass.

Staked -- 10 points.
Returns -- 1.91 points.

Results will appear here later on Wednesday night. We seek to recover from our current deficit of -42.38 points. It's just NOT going to be my year is it at this rate, lost another -8.09 tonight so it's a deficit of -50.47 to pass on. 

LAYS -- 13/22 so far, beginning to get them beat now, and if we have one or two Lays tonight they will be updated here also. One win One beat tonight, albeit long odds on. 14/24

Tonight's Lays;
GOLD AT MIDNIGHT  Lost 4th ! [17:55 1m Novice Stakes].
AFRICAN JAZZ  Won 1/2F  [20:25 1m 7f+ Handicap]. 

Our next meeting here at Kempton Park will be in a few weeks time on WEDNESDAY 12th SEPTEMBER so see you then.