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Four winning days out of six and a healthy profit of +£14.26 on the week.
Trial’s Day at Cheltenham on Saturday provided several clues for the festival in just over six weeks' time, although the day felt very flat following the injury sustained by Sir Gino in the Unibet Hurdle.
The highlight of the week ahead is Leopardstown’s Dublin Racing Festival which features a total of six Grade 1 races over the two days.
- P/L for the week ending Sunday, 25 January: +£14.26
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- P/L for the year 2024: +£200.42
- P/L since 1st September 2022: +£507.21
Alan Kelly's Tips - Sunday, 25 January
With a mixture of rain and snow forecast for Monday's two jumps cards in Britain at Hereford and Plumpton, it is a case of watch this space for any possible inspections.
The all-weather fixture at Wolverhampton and Punchestown in Ireland completes the possible horse racing action for the day.
1:20pm Plumpton - Quay Item (Nap)
Nicky Henderson had a day he would prefer to forget at Cheltenham on Saturday, the Seven Barrows trainer responsible for two runners at Plumpton this afternoon, Either Or in the mares’ handicap hurdle at 3:20pm and QUAY ITEM (Nap) in this opening maiden contest. While strong claims can be made for both runners, the Middleham Park Racing-owned Quay Item gets the nap vote.
A warm favourite to make a winning debut for the stable at Doncaster two months ago, Nico De Boinville’s mount had to settle for third place behind the Bailey/Nicholls-trained Matty’s Getaway and Dalston Lad from the Skelton stable. While we have yet to see the impressive winner since that victory, the runner-up has gone on to win races at Sedgefield and Haydock, earning a mark of 129 in the process.
On just his second run over hurdles, Quay Item is unlikely to meet anything of that calibre on this occasion and should have little trouble opening his account at the main expense of Venetia Williams’ Catch On Me and Lirone Du Seuil, one of Dan Skelton's lesser lights.
Recommendation: Quay Item (Nap)
2:50pm Plumpton - Lucky Manifest
Venetia Williams’ The Famous Five returns to hurdles for the first time since finishing 7th in Newbury’s Gerry Feilden 14 months ago, the eight-year-old a previous winner of handicaps at Leicester and Bangor, both run on testing ground. Charlie Deutsch’s mount was never going when tailed off at Ascot on his reappearance over fences, and with the stable still out of fettle, is best watched at the moment.
Neil Mulholland’s top weight Ike Sport ran into an improving hurdler when second to Paul Nicholls’ Absolutely Doyen at Wincanton on Boxing Day, who is now unbeaten in four starts for the Ditcheat trainer. A more than respectable 6th when not getting the clearest of runs in Kempton’s Lanzarote on his most recent start, the mount of 3lb claimer Bradley Harris would have been the selection on better ground but is unlikely to relish today’s soft conditions.
The ex-Gordon Elliott-trained Good To Be Alive has run well on both starts since joining the Olly Murphy stable and lost nothing in defeat when beating all bar the progressive Came From Nowhere at Hereford on his most recent start. While the mount of champion jockey Sean Bowen is respected, slight preference is for Tom Lacey’s LUCKY MANIFEST.
After winning a Kelso novices’ hurdle when trained by James Ewert last year, the six-year old won at the first time of asking for Lacey when winning on his handicap debut back at the Borders racecourse 171 days later. Beaten a length by Dan Skelton’s progressive A Pai De Nom in a competitive 18-runner soft ground handicap at Cheltenham in November, Stan Sheppard’s mount failed to give his running when returning to Prestbury Park for the December meeting.
Following a break of 6 weeks and back racing over this shorter trip, Lucky Manifest is fancied to get back to winning ways with conditions to suit.
Recommendation: Lucky Manifest
3:00pm Hereford - Passing Kate
On just 3lb better terms (1lb if you include the claims of both riders), the David Pipe-trained Royal Mer will be expected to confirm the form of his most recent start when the Pond House runner finished a close second at Exeter earlier in the month with fellow rival PASSING KATE eight lengths further back in fifth place.
However, over today's furlong and a half shorter trip, I think Matt Sheppard's charge can reverse the form in this Class 4 handicap. All five of Passing Kate's successes, three over hurdles and two over fences, have come on ground described as soft or heavy, in which case today's testing conditions should be no problem for the mount of 5lb claimer Ned Fox.
Runner-up on four of his last five starts, Royal Mer is more exposed over fences than Passing Kate and may have to settle for second spot once again behind the nine-year-old mare. Mon Champion has disappointed on all three starts for trainer Paul Nicholls since joining the Ditcheat team from France last year but has his favoured ground for the first time and is the other one to consider.
Recommendation: Passing Kate
* 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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