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Alan Kelly's Tips - Friday, 10 July
A cracking Friday of Flat racing with quality afternoon meetings at Newmarket, York and Ascot.
2:10pm York - Quest For Fun (Each-Way)
With another two winners at Catterick on Wednesday, the Tim Easterby stable continues in decent form and I expect a big run from his bottom weight QUEST FOR FUN (Each-Way) in this 19-runner 7f handicap. The eight-year-old’s last victory came when dead-heating with Ed Dunlop’s Pressure’s On over today’s course and distance 12 months ago.
Twice successful on the Knavesmire, Duran Fentiman’s mount has many creditable efforts to his name on the course, including when 4th of 18 in this race two years ago. An unlucky 3rd of 22 here on his most recent start back in May when denied a clear run on several occasions, the each-way selection can go close with more luck this time.
Michael Dods’ Northern Express failed to make an impact when racing in Bahrain during the winter, but is always to be feared in this type of race and is one of several potential dangers along with James Owen’s Goldmoyne, Lir Speciale and Andesite.
Recommendation: Quest For Fun (Each-Way) - 9/1 with BetVictor (5 places)
2:45pm York - Royal Fixation
Michael Bell’s Spicy Marg ran the race of her life when giving supporters of favourite Venetian Sun a fright in Royal Ascot’s Group 1 Commonwealth Cup last month, the daughter of Starspangledbanner going down by just a head after pressing Karl Burke’s charge throughout the final furlong.
Hector Crouch’s mount may well have been flattered by that performance and at a much bigger price I would rather side with another horse from the Karl Burke stable in the ex Ed Walker-trained ROYAL FIXATION. The daughter of Palace Pier was one of last season’s leading two-year-old fillies with victories at Thirsk and in York’s Lowther Stakes, along with a creditable third in Newmarket’s Cheveley Park Stakes.
Sam James’ mount is sure to have improved for her first run of the year when 7th in Newbury’s Carnarvan Stakes back in May and can get her season back on track with a victory in this Group 3 Summer Stakes.
Recommendation: Royal Fixation - 7/1 with William Hill
3:00pm Newmarket - Wine Dark Sea (Nap)
When napping the Harry Charlton-trained WINE DARK SEA (Nap) for Carlisle’s Cumberland Plate last month, I suggested that the four-year-old son of Ulysses had the look of a potential handicap good thing based on the form of his victory at Ascot the previous month. After cruising home hard-held by 13 lengths, the mount of Lewis Edmunds proved to be just that, resulting in the handicapper raising the horse a hefty 17lb to a mark of 100.
Stepping up to today’s 1m 6f trip for the first time, I think there could be even more improvement to come from the lightly-raced gelding, who is 11lb well-in for this (early closing) £100k Heritage Handicap under a 6lb penalty. In receipt of weight from all but two of his rivals, I will be disappointed if Wine Dark Sea fails to follow-up that Carlisle victory on today’s terms.
At a double-figure price, I think last year’s winner Oneforthegutter can make the frame once again.
Recommendation: Wine Dark Sea (Nap) - 11/10 with bet365
4:45pm Newmarket - Our Cody
Trainer Richard Hughes did us a favour when the stable’s Dubai Charm landed our 9/2 nap with a comfortable success at Yarmouth on Wednesday, and I like the chances of his promising three-year-old sprinter OUR CODY in this class 3 handicap run over the minimum trip.
While the daughter of Kodi Bear’s only win to date came in a Windsor maiden last summer, the filly has put up some cracking efforts in defeat, in particular when finishing a close second in the Listed Rosebery Stakes at Ayr’s Western meeting.
Third and 4th respectively in races at Sandown this season, the most recent in the Listed Scurry Stakes, Our Cody has the services of jockey Ryan Moore in the saddle for the first time; off a handicap mark of 88, Our Cody is fancied to open her account for the season at the main expense of Michael Keady’s Emperor Spirit.
Recommendation: Our Cody - 11/4 with William Hill
Ante-Post: Coral Golden Mile (Goodwood, 31 July) - Tribal Chief (Each-Way)
Having selected the David Menuisier-trained Tribal Chief for Saturday's valuable Coral Challenge at Sandown, the race was pretty much over for Saffie Osborne's mount as the stalls opened, the five-year-old losing in the region of 8 lengths to his rivals in a race where it was almost impossible to win from such a position.
A fast finishing sixth, beaten three lengths, the son of Sioux Nation nevertheless ran a cracking trial for Goodwood's Coral Golden Mile later this month. Currently standing at number 46 for the £175k handicap on the Friday of the five-day festival, and with a maximum field of 20, the five-year-old will need a few to come out in order to make the cut.
Sixth in last year's race off a 2lb lower mark when beaten three lengths after being slowly away once again as a strongly-fancied 11/2 chance, TRIBAL CHIEF (Each-Way) will need to get his act together as the stalls open on the Sussex Downs, but following excellent efforts in both the Lincoln and Victoria Cup this season, the ante-post selection has a big handicap within him at some point.
Recommendation: Tribal Chief (Each-Way) - 16/1 with Betfred & Paddy Power (¼ odds, 1-2-3-4)
* 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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