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A break-even week ending Sunday 30th August with a small profit of +£1.72 to a £1 level stake, although we did have three out of five winning naps (11/4, 11/4 (10p R4) and 4/7) plus a non-runner.
P/L for the week ending Sunday, 30 August: +£1.72
P/L for the year to date: +£157.90
P/L for the year 2025: +£22.38
P/L for the year 2024: +£200.42
P/L since 1st September 2022: +£658.56
Alan Kelly's Tips - Monday, 31 August
August Bank Holiday Monday features cards at Epsom, Ripon, Chepstow and Cartmel, along with Southwell’s all-weather fixture.
Over in Ireland, the action comes from Downpatrick in the afternoon and Roscommon in the evening.
With plenty of rain forecast over the weekend, a watchful eye on ground conditions is essential.
3:05pm Ripon - Silent Beauty
Of the eight contenders for this Listed Ripon Champion Two Yrs Old Trophy, 3 go into the 6f contest with unbeaten records. While the William Haggas-trained Not My Type and Rogue Jewel from the Ed Bethell stable each have two wins to their name, best of the trio may be Simon & Ed Crisford’s Pure Mint, an impressive winner on his debut here just over a month ago, the form of which was advertised when the third horse home, Reflect On Glory, won at Ripon on his next start.
While the mount of Harry Davies is clearly held in high regard, I just prefer the chances of Kevin Philippart De Foy’s filly SILENT BEAUTY in receipt of the 5lb sex allowance from Pure Mint. David Egan’s mount won an above average Yarmouth maiden on her debut in May from subsequent winners Scommessa Sicura (rated 97) and Dubai Charm.
Well fancied for Royal Ascot’s Albany Stakes on her next start, Silent Beauty, after disputing the lead 2 out, weakened to finish down the field. Not knocked about when her chance had gone, the daughter of Night Of Thunder is much better than the bare form of that Group 3 contest would suggest and deserves another chance in this smaller field for owner Amo Racing.
Recommendation: Silent Beauty - 9/2 with bet365
3:35pm Epsom - Divine Knight
There are few better amateur riders on the Flat than Mr Henry Callan, who has a great chance of taking this Betfred “Nifty 50” Amateurs’ Derby with the William Haggas-trained DIVINE KNIGHT. The Night Of Thunder gelding can be a little keen in his races but is sure to get a nice lead from last year’s easy winner Gordon Grey.
The latter will have the services of another leading amateur on this occasion in Irish jockey Mr Patrick Mullins. If in the same form as that of 12 months ago, the grey would have strong claims off a mark only 1lb higher. However, Gordon Grey has yet to produce anything like his best for current trainer Ben Brookhouse since leaving the George Baker stable earlier in the year, the six-year-old last seen finishing last of 13, beaten 50 lengths, in the Northern Dancer Handicap here on Derby Day.
Divine Knight is still lightly-raced and now runs off a career-low mark of 81. A repeat of the gelding’s excellent effort when finishing a close third in a valuable Ayr handicap in June would make the selection hard to beat in this company. The other one to consider is the James Owen-trained Crooked Path, the mount of another excellent amateur in Mr Simon Walker.
The winner of a Tramore maiden hurdle for Irish trainer Denis Hogan back in April, Crooked Path won on his debut for Owen at Kempton a couple of weeks ago and is respected in an excellent renewal of this popular handicap run over the Derby course and distance.
Recommendation: Divine Knight - 9/2 with bet365
3:40pm Ripon - Spoken Truth (Nap)
An interesting renewal of the Class 2 Ripon Rowels, in particular the two horses from the classic generation, both making their handicap debuts. Karl Burke’s Majestic Dane has been gelded following a couple of runs on Newcastle’ Tapeta surface earlier in the year, on the first occasion justifying odds of 4/7 in winning a weak maiden before beating all bar Andrew Balding’s Factual at the north-east racecourse, although the Kingsclere runner has been beaten on his three subsequent starts.
Previously with the Fabre family in France, Firefall will be making his debut for trainer Ed Bethell, the son of Kingman runner-up at Chantilly on his most recent start two months ago when owned by the Juddmonte operation. Any market move for Oisin Orr’s mount should be noted.
Kevin Phippart De Foy’s Lincoln winner of two years ago, Mr Professor, has been slowly slipping down the weights and is not without a chance, while top weight English Oak and David O’Meara’s Mirsky both have claims based on their best form. However, it is the latter’s stablemate SPOKEN TRUTH (Nap) who makes the most appeal to get off the mark at the ninth attempt since leaving the stable of Irish trainer Dermot Weld.
The Frankel gelding has proved a model of consistency for connections, finishing out of the first 4 only once for O’Meara, the five-year-old going down by a head to course specialist Spioradalta over 1m 2f on this course back in April.
Third behind subsequent Group 3 winner Sallaal at Epsom on Oaks Day, Daniel Tudhope’s mount will not be inconvenienced by any further easing in the ground at the Garden Racecourse, and with a tongue-tie on for the first time, this consistent performer is fancied to open his account for connections off what I think is a decent mark of 85.
Recommendation: Spoken Truth (Nap) - 4/1 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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