Alan Kelly’s Tips
Alan heads to Hereford on Monday for his Nap of the Day
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A disappointing week ending Sunday, 25 October, which resulted in a loss of -£11.22 despite winning naps at 5/1 and 11/8 along with an opening 4/1 success on Saturday.
P/L for the week ending Sunday, 25 October: -£11.22
P/L for the year to date: +£188.38
P/L for the year 2025: +£22.38
P/L for the year 2024: +£200.42
P/L since 1st September 2022: +£688.94
Alan Kelly's Tips - Monday, 26 October
Testing conditions are expected for Monday’s turf meetings at Redcar and Leicester in Britain and Galway and Wexford in Ireland, while Hereford’s Jumps card is forecast to take place on ground described as good to firm, good in places.
2:52pm Hereford - Lucy The Wire (Nap)
Trainer James Owen introduces an interesting juvenile hurdler in Charles Darnay in the third race on the card, the lightly-raced Planteur gelding 2 from 5 on the Flat and the type to do well now switched to the smaller obstacles. However, I think Owen’s best chance of a winner on the card comes in this 2m mares’ handicap hurdle courtesy of his four-year-old filly LUCY THE WIRE (Nap).
The daughter of Free Eagle has won 2 of her 8 starts over hurdles, the most recent off a mark of 100 at Worcester during the summer in the hands of jockey Sean Bowen. Runner-up off a 5lb higher mark at Stratford 9 days later, over an extra two and a half furlongs when holding a 2 length lead jumping the final furlong, Jonathan Burke’s mount will appreciate dropping back down to today’s extended two miles.
The selection has been kept busy on the flat over the last three months, winning a 1m 4f handicap on Kempton’s all-weather surface three weeks ago. Lucy The Wire will not fail through lack of fitness and is fancied to concede 20lb to potential main danger Getarose.
Recommendation: Lucy The Wire (Nap) - 9/4 with bet365
This is Alan's Nap of the Day selection - see how it stacks up against Charlie McCann's pick.
3:20pm Galway - One Big Boum (Each-Way)
Third in a couple of big field handicaps at the Galway Festival during the summer, one on the flat and one over hurdles, Emmet Mullins’ nine-year-old Teed Up is capable of a big run in this 2m 6f handicap hurdle following a spin on the Flat at Clonmel last month.
Gavin Cromwell’s Stumptown returns to hurdles for the first time in over four years for what is likely to be a pipe-opener for another cross country campaign. Many of the 14 contenders are also likely to improve for the run, but with the Philip Fenton stable having been successful with both of their running during the last couple of weeks, I like the chances of the seven-year-old ONE BIG BOUM (Each-Way).
The gelding has won 4 of his 17 starts over hurdles, all of which were achieved on ground varying from soft to heavy, conditions similar to what we can expect this afternoon. A winner by 24 lengths at Fairyhouse back in February over 2m 4f, Donagh Meyler’s mount was unable to repeat that kind of form when dropped back to two miles at Wexford two months later but with conditions in his favour today, One Big Boum is expected to go close.
Recommendation: One Big Boum (Each-Way)
3:27pm Hereford - Miss Kingston
Alan King’s Saxon Pride showed some promise on her hurdling debut at Bangor back in March when finishing third to the 128-rated Planters Punch from the Nicky Henderson stable. The daughter of Telescope should be up to winning a handicap at some point in the future, a remark which also applies to the Jane Williams-trained Graceful Glance, who finished second on her only start to date over hurdles at Leicester around this time last year.
Despite having to concede 8lb to those two rivals, this mares’ novices’ hurdle is expected to go to MISS KINGSTON for in-form trainer Alastair Ralph. On her first start for the stable since coming from Ireland earlier in the year, the grey daughter of Kingston Hill won a Chepstow maiden by 25 lengths before running subsequent Welsh Champion Hurdle winner Pioneer Pete to a length and a half at Worcester during the summer.
While only 6th of 14 in the CopyBet Fixed Brush Hurdle Series Final at Worcester on her most recent start, a repeat of that effort from Jonathan Burke’s mount should be more than good enough against today’s opposition.
Recommendation: Miss Kingston - 4/6 with bet365
* Betting odds correct at the time of publication. All odds are subject to changes.
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About Alan Kelly
A passionate follower of horse racing for over 50 years, Alan has enjoyed a 40-year career in the betting industry, 28 of which he spent running his betting shop as an owner/manager.
A successful punter with a keen eye for value, Alan has had many betting highlights, including a Scoop 6 win and has shown a consistent profit in the battle with bookmakers since joining Free Bets in 2008.
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