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Latest Profit & Loss Figures
With very little turf racing taking place, we ended the week with a small profit of +£1.61, although three of our four naps obliged at odds of 11/4, 6/1, and 3/1 (25p R4).
- P/L for the week ending Sunday, 11 January: +£1.61
- P/L for the year 2026 to date: -£7.99
- P/L for the year 2025: +£22.38
- P/L for the year 2024: +£200.42
- P/L since 1st September 2022: +£508.37
Alan Kelly's Tips - Sunday, 18 January
ITV Racing will be showing nine races on Sunday afternoon, including 5 from the final day of the Winter Millions where the ground is soft, heavy in places on the hurdles course
3:00pm Windsor - Resplendent Grey (w/o Protektorat) (Nap)
Conditions for this £165k Fleur De Lys Chase very much favour the highest-rated of the 6 contenders, the Dan Skelton-trained Protektorat, 23 length winner of the race 12 months ago. All being well, Harry Skelton’s mount should have little trouble in following up after the gelding’s excellent effort under a big weight when third in a valuable handicap at Cheltenham on his reappearance two months ago.
The race for second place, according to the betting, is expected to be fought out by Ben Pauling’s Handstand and Matata from the Twiston-Davies stable. I’m not convinced the latter is crying out for this kind of trip on testing ground, while there is little between the former and Olly Murphy’s RESPLENDENT GREY, the pair separated by three quarters of a length in Carlisle’s Colin Parker back in November.
In receipt of 2lb Resplendent Grey came out on top on that occasion, and on 2lb better terms today must have a good chance of doing so once again, as this thorougher stayer (won last season’s bet365 Gold Cup) is likely to be doing his best work at the end of this extended 2m 6f race. The eight-year-old gets the vote in the market without the favourite.
Recommendation: Resplendent Grey (w/o Protektorat) (Nap) - 9/2 with bet365
3:35pm Windsor - Gold Clermont (Each-Way)
The Christian Williams-trained Planned Paradise ran out an easy winner of this race 12 months ago and now attempts back-to-back victories off a 7lb lower mark. Jack Tudor’s mount has struggled to recapture that kind of form in 10 subsequent outings. However, several of those races were over a distance on the short side and it would be no surprise to see the 10-year-old run another big race.
Trainer Sam Thomas is having a good season and his Special John is unbeaten on both of his starts over fences. The seven-year-old has fair claims in an effort to record a hat-trick of wins, as has Clive Boultbee-Brooks’ Express Surprise, a winner over 3m at Wetherby and Uttoxeter last month.
While cases can be made for many of the 17 contenders for this stamina-sapping contest, conditions should prove ideal for the 10-year-old GOLD CLERMONT (Each-Way), who gets the each-way vote for the successful trainer/jockey combination of Olly Murphy and champion Sean Bowen.
When in the care of previous handler Andy Irvine, Gold Clermont won four staying handicaps, the most recent off today’s mark of 110 at Fontwell two years ago before going on to finish a creditable fourth in Newcastle’s marathon Eider Chase the following month.
The mare has run well on both starts since joining Murphy, the most recent when finishing fourth in Kelso’s Scottish Borders National over an extended 4m. On ground that is sure to be testing, Gold Clermont will be staying on when others have had enough.
Recommendation: Gold Clermont (Each-Way) - 12/1 with Paddy Power (5 places)
* 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 Freebets.com in 2008.
You can follow Alan Kelly on Twitter for more racing insight.
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