Get fresh daily selections and a standout Nap of the Day from our in-house racing expert, Alan Kelly.
Looking to boost your bets? Discover the latest betting offers from the UK's best betting sites.
For live TV action, head to our ITV Racing Tips hub for expert picks on the biggest races, and explore Ryan Moore booked rides for detailed insights on one of flat racing's most successful jockeys.
Latest Profit & Loss Figures
A frustrating end to last week with narrowly beaten seconds at 11/1 (backed into 9/4), 5/2, 11/1 (Nap) and 20/1. Winners at 15/2 (Nap) and 13/2 helped to end the final week before the Cheltenham Festival with a small profit of +£4.90, although things could have been so much better.
- P/L for the week ending Sunday, 8 March: +£4.90
- P/L for the year 2026 to date: +£70.17
- P/L for the year 2025: +£22.38
- P/L for the year 2024: +£200.42
- P/L since 1st September 2022: +£570.83
Stable Stars
The new and exciting fantasy horse racing game STABLE STARS is now live on Free Bets!
Click below to play, or visit the Stable Stars hub for game information, plus terms and conditions!
Alan Kelly's Tips - Saturday, 14 March
The ITV Racing cameras will be covering six races on Saturday afternoon, three each from the meetings at Kempton Park and Uttoxeter, the feature race being the JenningsBet Midlands Grand National at 3:00pm.
Ground on the soft side of good is expected at both venues.
2:08pm Kempton - Chuggy (Nap)
After winning his first three races over fences, the Dan Skelton-trained CHUGGY (Nap) failed to land the odds when attempting the four-timer in a three-runner affair at Aintree on Boxing Day. The omission of several fences on the Mildmay course did not suit the Walk In The Park gelding, who is fancied to get back to winning ways on a course with the full complement of fences to jump.
Prior to that defeat at Aintree, Tristan Durrell’s mount came home unchallenged at Warwick 15 days earlier from a horse, Norn Iron, who has since recorded two easy victories and now runs off a mark 12lb higher than at Warwick. Norn Iron’s trainer Harry Derham is represented by bottom weight Pure Carbon here, but I thought Paul O’Brien’s mount struggled to win at Musselburgh at the beginning of last month, a bigger danger to Chuggy possibly coming in the shape of James Owen’s Secret Des Dieux and champion jockey Sean Bowen.
Recommendation: Chuggy (Nap) - 4/1 with bet365
2:25pm Uttoxeter - French Ship (Each-Way)
A seriously competitive renewal of this valuable Class 2 handicap hurdle, won last year by Paul Nicholls’ Red Risk, who just got the better of the Dan Skelton-trained favourite Joyeux Machin. While the Ditcheat runner will attempt to win back-to-back renewals off a 6lb higher mark, it is another Skelton inmate who is likely to head the market in the shape of last month’s easy Newbury winner A Pai De Nom, the mount of stable jockey Harry Skelton.
Four from 6 over hurdles, the lightly-raced six-year-old may prove to be a lot better than his current handicap mark of 129 with plenty more improvement to come from the son of Passing Glance. While A Pai De Nom is greatly respected, I like the chances of the Hobbs/White-trained top weight FRENCH SHIP (Each-Way).
Closely matched with the Skelton runner based on Kempton's Lanzarote form (third and 7th respectively), the previously progressive six-year-old is probably better going left-handed, as when winning valuable handicaps at Cheltenham and Newbury earlier in the season. Strongly-supported for Haydock’s Grade 2 Rendlesham Hurdle last month only to stumble and unseat his rider 3 out at the Merseyside racecourse, I think the mount of Lorcan Williams is capable of conceding the weight all round over today’s extended 2m 7f trip.
Recommendation: French Ship (Each-Way) - 9/1 with William Hill (4 places)
2:40pm Kempton - La Pinsonniere (Each-Way)
The Nicky Henderson stable enjoyed a decent Cheltenham and the Seven Barrows stable usually do well at this Kempton meeting which takes place following the action at Prestbury Park. With a rating of 130, the mare LA PINSONNIERE (Each-Way) would have struggled to make the cut at last week’s festival but must have a decent chance of taking this £40k handicap hurdle for connections.
After leaving French trainer Francois Nicolle almost two years ago, the daughter of Beaumec De Houelle won her maiden at Huntingdon last January, along with finishing a close second on her other four starts before reappearing at Warwick last month following a break of 9 months.
Not surprisingly, Nico de Boinville’s mount looked in need of that run on heavy ground, the six-year-old weakening to finish third of the four running in a 2m 5f Listed race. With that outing under her belt, and on better ground, La Pinsonniere must have a good chance in this Class 2 handicap off a mark of 130. Of the two Paul Nicholls runners, Fasol and 5lb claimer Olive Nicholls can prove best of those at a double-figure price.
Recommendation: La Pinsonniere (Each-Way) - 15/2 with Betfred (4 places)
3:00pm Uttoxeter - J’Arrive De L’Est & Jupiter Allen (Each-Way)
Stopping off at Uttoxeter on their way home from the Cheltenham Festival, the Irish have a good record in this Jenningsbet Midlands Grand National, most recently courtesy of the William Durkan-trained Screaming Colours in 2022. Barry Connell’s My Immortal, John McConnell’s outsider Bodhivastta and J'ARRIVE DE L'EST from the Emmet Mullins stable complete the Irish challenge this year, the most interesting being the latter who bypassed the festival in favour of this 4m 2f stamina test.
The booking of in-form jockey James Bowen for the ex French gelding, who has performed with credit on both of his starts for Mullins over Cheltenham's cross country course, finishing second on both occasions behind the first two horses home in Wednesday’s Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase, Final Orders and Favori De Champdou, is a big plus and the gelding looks the one to beat in this marathon contest off a mark of 126.
With most bookmakers offering 5 places, I will also back the Chester Williams-trained JUPITER ALLEN (Each-Way), as I think the seven-year-old will be suited by today’s significant step-up in trip. An easy winner over 3m 1f at Wincanton on his most recent start, Lorcan Williams’ mount won't mind any further easing in the ground and is open to more improvement than most of his 16 rivals.
Recommendations: J’Arrive De L’Est - 10/3 with William Hill & Jupiter Allen (Each-Way) - 11/1 with bet365 (5 places)
3:18pm Kempton - Ryan’s Rocket
Nicky Henderson’s Califet En Vol opened his account over fences with a comfortable victory over today’s course and distance last month (Etalon 4th and Shakeyatailfeather 7th) and will be fancied by many to follow-up off a 5lb higher mark. Nico de Boinville’s mount is clearly a progressive chaser but in receipt of 7lb from the Seven Barrows contender I fancy Fergal O’Brien’s RYAN'S ROCKET to take plenty of beating.
An easy winner of Newbury’s Jim Joel Memorial Trophy back in November, the eight-year-old was in the process of running a big race when unseating his rider on this course over Christmas, that 2m Desert Orchid Chase going to Dan Skelton’s Haldon Gold Cup winner Thistle Ask, who would go on to give Jonbon a race in Ascot’s Grade 1 Clarence House Chase three weeks later.
Olly Murphy’s Barlovento is better than he showed at Cheltenham last time and could make the frame at a double-figure price.
Recommendation: Ryan’s Rocket - 5/2 with Paddy Power
3:35pm Uttoxeter - Kykorock
A field of only 7 for this £50k novices’ handicap chase but hard to completely rule out any of the participants. Milcree, As The Fella Says and Golden Point are all improving novices who won last time out but I think this big step-up in trip will suit Dan Skelton’s runner, bottom weight KYKOROCK, who gets the tentative vote in an open contest.
The unexposed six-year-old won on his first two starts over fences, at Warwick and Market Rasen towards the end of last year, before finishing third at Haydock on his most recent start after making several mistakes. Those three races were run over trips of 2m 1f or less. With the aid of a tongue-tie for the first time, Harry Skelton’s mount could improve significantly for this first try at three miles.
Recommendation: Kykorock - 4/1 with BetVictor
* Betting odds correct at the time of publication. All odds are subject to changes.
Latest Horse Racing Tips, Stats & Trends
Check out more from the Freebets horse racing hub, including tips, stats, market movers and today’s racecards!
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 X for more racing insight.
Latest Horse Racing News
