2020 NFL DIVISIONAL PLAY OFF WEEKEND

The wild card games are done and we now have the Divisional Playoffs as we begin to edge closer to the end of the post season and Superbowl LIV. We are down to the final eight teams who will contest the Divisional Playoff games this weekend and put themselves into the Championship games for the right to play in the finale at Miami's Hard Rock Stadium on February 2nd. We can anticipate some cracking NFL games this weekend, who can win to keep their season alive and who will be watching Superbowl LIV from the comfort of their sofa with a cold beer? (with me) 

The opening game on Saturday night is in the NFC where No1 Seeds San Francisco [13-3] will host 6th Seed Minnesota Vikings [10-6] at the Levi Stadium, where you must favour the stronger season long form of the 49ers and Minnesota are suffering a lot of injuries. Though you cannot really write them off completely having taken the scalp of New Orleans Saints last weekend in overtime (26-20) but this might be one game too many and I expect a San Francisco win. Sunday morning (UK times) sees the first of the AFC games where the AFC No1 Seeds Baltimore Ravens [14-2] host Tennessee Titans [9-7] and as impressive a season as the Ravens have had it would be foolish to write off the chances of the Titans especially as they've just ended the reigning Superbowl champions New England in the wild card game. Baltimore do have the outstanding star players this season and also home advantage so I'll take them to win but in a high scoring game.

The other games on Sunday see AFC 4th seeds Houston Texans [10-6] travel to 2nd seeds Kansas City Chiefs [12-4] and over in the NFC the 5th seeds Seattle Seahawks [11-5] go on the road to 2nd seeds Green Bay Packers [13-3]. Should be very close but the percentage call is to side with the hosts in both games here which would set up a pair of amazing Championship Games. Have been backing Baltimore to win the Superbowl this season and Lemar Jackson is going to be the MVP so not long to go now and don't let me down guys.

Saturday 11th January 2020
NFC DIVISIONAL PLAY-OFF
Minnesota Vikings  10 @ 27  San Francisco 49ers
21:35  Venue: Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara
The San Francisco 49ers beat the Minnesota Vikings 27-10 with running back Tevin Coleman rushing for 105 yards and two touchdowns. San Francisco will now host the Green Bay Packers or the Seattle Seahawks for the NFC title next Sunday. Neither quarterback played flawlessly. The focus will land on Kirk Cousins, as it always does after big games. The Vikings quarterback was swarmed repeatedly by the Niners' defence and far too often, Cousins was in check-down mode. Even when he tried to go deep, however, the QB had zero time to throw. The 49ers never trailed, with their defence holding the Vikings to 21 yards rushing and 147 total yards. Minnesota had only seven first downs as Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins could not get on track and was sacked six times.
Sunday 12th January 2020
AFC DIVISIONAL PLAY-OFF
Tennessee Titans  28  @ 12  Baltimore Ravens
01:15  Venue: M and T Bank Stadium.
Ryan Tannehill passed for two touchdowns and ran for another as the Titans beat the AFC top seeds 28-12. They will now meet the winners of Sunday's Kansas City Chiefs-Houston Texans game for the AFC title on 19 January. Derrick Henry was again the story of a Titans upset playoff win, the running back racked up 195 yards on 30 carries, powering the Titans in all areas. He ripped off long runs and barrelled through defenders for key conversions, and he even used his arm when he channelled his inner 'Tim Tebow' by tossing a jump pass to Corey Davis for a touchdown. Favourites Baltimore never really allowed to get going and even Lamar Jackson was making mistakes throwing a couple of interceptions and not able to reach the heights he'd set in the regular season.

AFC DIVISIONAL PLAY-OFF
Houston Texans  31  @  51  Kansas City Chiefs
20:05  Venue: Arrowhead Stadium.
Will update tonight's games later on ... the Texans have stormed into an early 14 point lead with two touchdowns in the opening five minutes of play. Dustin Colquitt's punt is blocked by Barkevious Mingo - another classic NFL name - and Lonnie Johnson can't believe his luck as he scoops up the loose ball to run it in for a special teams touchdown from 10 yards. There is definitely rust from the Chiefs, Tyreek Hill spills the next punt and a posse of bodies pounce on the loose ball. Keion Crossen recovers it for the Texans and they are at the Chiefs' six-yard line they go over for another touchdown and it's 21-0 to the Texans and we have barely reached the end of the opening quarter! In the 2Q Patrick Mahomes finds tight end Travis Kelce twice to score consecutive touchdowns. After trailing 24-0, the Chiefs have scored three touchdowns in 3 minutes 24 seconds. They did not let up in the second half of the game either and cruised to a 51-31 win and must surely now be favourites for the Superbowl. 

NFC DIVISIONAL PLAY-OFF
Seattle Seahawks 23  @ 28  Green Bay Packers
23:40  Venue: Lambeau Field.
Green Bay Packers reached the NFC Championship game with a 28-23 win over the Seattle Seahawks. Davante Adams starred for Green Bay, who will visit the top-seeded San Francisco 49ers to decide who will progress to Super Bowl 54 from the National Football Conference after they beat the Minnesota Vikings on Saturday. "Adams had an unbelievable night," said team-mate Aaron Rodgers, who threw two touchdown passes to Adams. "He carried us on offence. His route running ability was incredible." Osi Umenyiora had earlier called them out "I think Green Bay Packers are one of the worst number two seed teams I've ever seen. This is the end of the road for them and I think Seattle will beat them purely because they're the better football team." Oh dear Osi, looks like Jason Bell is going to beat you !! Still you have those TWO Superbowl rings so that's going to help.

[Times shown are GMT]


Will update with the final scores later over the weekend and then look forward to the AFC and NFC Championship Games next Sunday 19th January. Then of course begin to look at the Superbowl LIV itself which will be on Sunday 2nd February in Miami and broadcast live on BBC TV in UK.

KEMPTON PARK RACES 2020 -- WEDNESDAY NIGHTS #1 8th JANUARY

It's a new dawn, it's a new life it's a new day (and I'm feeling good). Happy New Year all, we are back for a new year here at Kempton Park Racecourse. The regular meetings under the lights on a Wednesday evening and having had a little break with the King George meeting we return to life on the all weather flat track again. All being well 2020 can be a good year for us.

The least said about last season the better I guess, but we should just acknowledge that it wasn't good, and improvement is needed. So we will start with a clean slate for the year, but we are fully aware that more is needed plus a bit of luck perhaps. The Lay bets went well though and they will also continue and recorded separately. Let us move onward with this our FIRST Wednesday night of 2020, and will continue to focus on the handicap contests for each Wednesday evening meeting though we will also occasionally include a feature listed or conditions event too if there is one available. The feature event tonight is going to be the 18:15 Conditions Stakes a Class 2 contest over 6f which was won last year by Keystroke trained by Stuart Williams. 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.

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 40/54 (74%). We reset the counters for 2020 and will be continuing this throughout the year again.

This Wednesday is meeting number one for the 2020 AW season. Tonight we are expecting an eight race card now (6f Handicap has been divided into two, so we end later tonight) during which we will have six handicaps and shall also include the Class 2 Conditions contest at 18:15. The action will now commence at 16:15 with a seven furlong Handicap and tonight's card ends around about 19:45 with our final handicap contest over a six furlong trip. 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 lot of cloudy weather with some scattered showers anticipated the best we expect the temperature to reach is around 12C by the time the meeting gets underway. January chill brrrr.

Here are our handicap selections for tonight;

16:15 Racing TV Handicap

(Class 7, 7f, 14 runners)

Our opening event has a max field of fourteen and is the lowest grade available, so not one to get too heavily involved. SHERELLA [12th 9/1] is only rated 46 so won't find many events easier to get involved with wasn't beaten too far at Chelmsford last time and one to consider, with a good jockey doing the steering (David Probert). While N OVER J [10th 13/8f] started life with a rating in the mid 70s slowly lowered to current mark of 45 and has place form off higher so while not one to get too excited about this is at least a level that he should be up to.

16:45 32Red Casino Handicap 3yo (Div One)

(Class 6, 6f, 10 runners)

This sprint has been split into two divisions, a lot of fillies in the first division to consider. Top weight Miss Thoughtful [Won 6/1] has claims having been runner up here but will oppose with the pair INEVITABLE OUTCOME [4th 10/1] (David Simcock) along with the bottom one STAR OF ST LOUIS [3rd 7/1] (Denis Quinn) who was well backed last time out and given one more opportunity here. Sweet Serenade deserves to go off favourite but is too short for us tonight in an open 3yo handicap. 

17:15 32Red Casino Handicap 3yo (Div Two)

(Class 6, 6f, 9 runners)

The second division has nine declared and HM The Queen is represented by SOUND MIXER who is fancied to make a winning handicap debut after showing promise on two of his three starts so far. While much bigger odds we can have both MALMESBURY ABBEY [WON 11/4] (Ed Walker) and TILTILYS ROCK [5th 33/1] (A Crook) against the fav.

17:45 32Red.com Handicap (3yo)

(Class 5, 7f, 9 runners)

Another race for 3yo's only over seven furlongs and the nine are headed by William Haggas' QASEEDA didn't seem to be the easiest of rides last time and still might need some more experience so am looking at the pair of COLLETTE [8th 16/1] (Hugo Palmer) and also LEG IT LENNY [7th 8/1] (Robert Cowell).

18:45 32Red.com Conditions Stakes
(Class 2, 6f, 6 runners)

The best race on the card is included tonight and is worth over £15k to the winner. Just the six declared tonight and HARRY'S BAR [3rd 9/4] has won here for us before, should be ready again and in a small field the draw is not an issue. SOLDIERS MINUTE [4th 2/1f] is another course and distance winner to be interested in having won here couple of times last term and also picked up a big field handicap at York so not just an AW specialist and looks solid in this company. Straight Right represents top owners King Power Racing and has won of marks in the 100s, while Junius Brutus and Silent Echo might prefer a slight ease in the weights and pick up a nice handicap somewhere. Only the bottom one PENARTH PIER looks completely out of it (100/1 shot) even though is the only one here getting any weight allowance but with prize money offered down to 8th (only 6 here remember) she'll still go home with something more than her bus fare home - now reported as a Non Runner.

19:15 32Red.com Handicap

(Class 6, 1m 7f 218y, 11 runners)

A field of 11 stayers for our penultimate event here tonight, headed by the 5yo Adams Park who doesn't strike me as a proven stayer so will be opposed here. JAMACHO [Non Runner] however is a bumper and hurdle winner so will certainly stay this but will they be able to settle better, chance if they can. 

PERCY'S PRINCE [7th 7/2] is a course and distance winner (when trained by Sir Mark Prescott) which must be considered in a race of this nature, didn't run up to form last time out which is a small concern but that was at Lingfield and has run much better here and with question marks about most of this field I think this one is a sure fire place bet at least.

19:45 100% Profit Boost At 32RedSport.com Amateur Riders' Handicap

(Class 4, 6f, 10 runners)

Our finale tonight is a race for amateur riders and there are some nice form choices here, bottom weight TOP BOY [5th 8/1] is a 10yo having his 98th race !! Won twice last summer so is not yet ready for the retirement paddock has little weight and a good claimer in the saddle so considered. While HASSAAD [3rd 5/1] represents the trainer / jockey combination that took this race last year with the well backed Choice Encounter, so market support would also be interesting tonight, they'll be my pair against the field.

Staked -- 14 points.      Returns -- 4.75 points.

Results will appear here later during Wednesday evening. This season we start afresh and will try hard to stop going well behind but all results are accurate and recorded to SP returns to a 1pt win stake only and updated each meeting. A disappointing start to 2020 with just one winner creating a loss in #1 of -9.25, results to SP we will need to improve. 

LAYS -- We had a good season last year 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. 1/2 tonight, both favs, wasn't far away.

Tonight's Lays;
17:15 - SOUND MIXER (6f Handicap) LOST 2nd 2/1 .

18:15 - RAINING FIRE (1m 3f 219y Novice Stakes) Won 5/4f.

Our second meeting for this year will be held in a couple of weeks time on Wednesday 22nd January hope you can join us.

FA CUP 2019-20 FOURTH ROUND DRAW MONDAY 6th JANUARY [BBC 1 7:30pm]

This Monday night it will be time for the draw to be made for the 4th Round of this seasons FA Cup. The BBC will be showing the final 3rd Round tie between Arsenal and Leeds Live tonight with a place in the fourth round at stake. We anticipate that the 4th round draw will take place shortly before this game kicks off now.

No team has won the FA Cup more than Arsenal, who have lifted the famous trophy 13 times. But the Gunners have had a disappointing first half of the season, one that cost head coach Unai Emery his job. Leeds, meanwhile, have been in great form and are on course for a return to the Premier League after a 15-year absence. It’s half a century since Leeds’s FA Cup purple patch, when they reached the final three times in four years, but they will come to the Emirates confident of upsetting their top-flight opponents. And all Leeds fans will know that the high point of that early 1970's run came in 1972, when they won the FA Cup for the first and only time after beating Arsenal in the final.

Heads Up Campaign
As with ALL the ties this weekend they will kick off 1 minute later than scheduled to accommodate a short video as part of the Heads Up campaign on metal health. Heads Up is partnering with Public Health England’s ‘Every Mind Matters’ across the Emirates FA Cup third round to draw attention to the simple steps we can all take to look after our mental health and well being. Spearheaded by HRH The Duke of Cambridge, the Heads Up campaign harnesses the influence and popularity of football to encourage more people – particularly men – to feel comfortable talking about, and taking action to improve, their mental health and to recognise that mental fitness is just as important as physical fitness. It is hoped that the initiative will raise awareness of the importance of looking after our mental health, with 60 seconds representing just the first step in the journey to improved well being. Fans will be encouraged to consider the positive impact 60 seconds can have on their own well being or in supporting a friend or family member.

We will update here on Monday night with the details of the 4th round draw while it's being made, which I believe will be made BEFORE the final Live game between Arsenal and Leeds United BBC 1 at the Emirates Stadium. Mark Chapman will host the draw, with former Arsenal and England defender Alex Scott joined by ex Arsenal star and Leeds United boss David O’Leary to pull out the numbers.

FA Cup Fourth Round Draw
  Watford or Tranmere Rovers  vs  Wolves or Manchester United

  Hull City  vs  Chelsea
  Southampton  vs  Middlesbrough or Tottenham Hotspur
  Queens Park Rangers  vs  Sheffield Wednesday  
  Bournemouth  vs  Arsenal 

  Northampton Town  vs  Derby County
  Brentford  vs  Leicester City

  Millwall  vs  Sheffield United

  Reading or Blackpool Town  vs  Cardiff City or Carlisle United

  West Ham United  vs  West Bromwich Albion
  Burnley  vs  Norwich City
  Bristol Rovers or Coventry City  vs  Birmingham City
  Manchester City  vs  Fulham 

  Rochdale or Newcastle United  vs  Oxford United
  Portsmouth  vs  Barnsley

  Bristol City or Shrewsbury Town  vs  Liverpool

The fourth round will have 16 ties and is scheduled for the weekend of Friday 24th to Monday 27th January, with winning clubs collecting £180,000. 3rd Round replays will be resolved on Tuesday 14th and Wednesday 15th. The Live TV games will be decided soon after. Good luck to all involved.