Alan Kelly’s Horse Racing Tips
Horse racing tips for Perth & Sandown on Friday
Alan Kelly We’ve got daily tips from our resident horse racing expert, Alan Kelly.
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Slightly in front going into the weekend, a disappointing Saturday meant we ended the week with a loss of -£8.51.
After tipping Kihavah at a big price for last week’s Scottish Champion Hurdle, only for the horse to lose any chance with a serious mistake at the 4th hurdle, not giving last season’s Ebor runner-up another chance in Musselburgh’s valuable Queen’s Cup was particularly galling.
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Alan Kelly’s Horse Racing Tips
The ITV Racing cameras will be covering the action from Sandown Park’s high-class flat card, along with a couple of races on the final day of the Perth Festival.
We have tips for both meetings, the feature race at the Esher racecourse being the Group 2 bet365 Mile at 3:00pm. Ground on the soft side of good is forecast for both fixtures.
Nap of the Day - Windlord (3:35pm Sandown)
In-form trainer Andrew Balding’s promising son of Dubawi could enter the Derby picture with a victory in this Group 3 bet365 Classic Trial.
2:05pm Perth - Busty Boy (Each-Way) & Prince Des Fichaux (Each-Way)
A competitive field of 13 for this Highland National, headed by the 123-rated Irish raider Bodhisattva in what looks to be a below-par renewal of this extended 3m 6f stamina test. John McConnell’s charge finished second, beaten nine and a half lengths, by fellow rival Magna Sam in Musselburgh’s Edinburgh National back in February but now meets Alastaire Ralph’s 11-year-old on 9lb better terms.
Jonjo & A J O’Neill’s Mt Fugi Park is open to plenty more improvement on just his fourth start over fences and racing over this kind of trip for the first time. Bottom weight Fairlawn Flyer is on a hat-trick and has the services of jockey Sean Bowen, who will be crowned champion jockey tomorrow.
The Lucinda Russell-trained pair of Inis Oirr and If Not For Dylan both have strong claims along with the Greenall/Guerriero-trained Jacks Parrot. However, my two against the field are Daragh Bourk’s BUSTY BOY (Each-Way) and PRINCE DES FICHAUX (Each-Way) from the in-form Ewan Whillans stable. The former has been narrowly beaten on both visits to the track and could well appreciate this first try at an extreme distance, the mount of Danny McMenamin a fine second in the Red Rum Series Final at Carlisle last month.
The case for Prince Des Fichaux requires a bit more in the way of faith, Sean Quinlan’s mount now on a losing run of 14. The eight-year-old’s best form has come over extreme trips, as when beating all bar Anglers Crag in last year’s marathon Eider Chase at Newcastle off a 8lb lower mark.
Fourth of 17 in that race two months ago, the son of No Risk At All was well beaten at Kelso on his most recent start. But that was over a trip of less than 3m and I expect a much better effort from the gelding today under more suitable conditions.
Recommendations: Busty Boy (Each-Way) - 7/1 with Coral (4 places) & Prince Des Fichaux (Each-Way) - 16/1 with bet365 (4 places)
2:40pm Perth - Wal Buck’s (Each-Way)
A race named in honour of one of the greatest wordsmiths ever to put pen to paper on the sport of horse racing, in particular that of the jumping variety, this 3m Alastair Down Novices’ Handicap Chase looks a good opportunity for the Lucinda Russell-trained/J P McManus-owned WAL BUCK'S (Each-Way) to record a second victory over fences.
Despite several promising efforts in defeat over hurdles, the six-year-old’s future was always going to lie over fences. The son of Buck’s Boum made his debut as a chaser with a disappointing effort when sent off favourite for a 2m 4f handicap on this course 11 months ago.
Following a more promising effort when third at Uttoxeter 170 days later, Patrick Wadge’s mount just lost out in a Red Rum Series Qualifier at Wetherby five weeks later before finally getting off the mark with an easy victory at Haydock at the end of the year. Only third at Uttoxeter on his first outing of 2025, Wal Buck’s was let down by a far from fluent round of jumping. Normally very good over his fences, the selection can return to winning ways with a performance in that department.
Nicky Richards’ President Scottie should be winning soon as a chaser and looks the main danger to the selection along with Olly Murphy’s Heard That.
Recommendation: Wal Buck’s (Each-Way) - 11/2 with bet365 (3 places)
3:35pm Sandown - Windlord (Nap)
Trainer Andrew Balding has made a tremendous start to the season and the Kingsclere stable could have a potential Derby candidate in WINDLORD (Nap), currently a 66/1 chance with bet365 for Epsom on the first Saturday in June.
The Dubawi colt, following a couple of promising runs on this course in the summer, ran out a most impressive winner of a valuable juvenile race at York in September before stepping-up in company for the Group 2 Beresford Stakes at the Curragh later that month.
Held up at the rear of that one mile contest, Windlord was doing all of his best work at the finish in going down by just over a length in third place behind Jessica Harrington’s Hotazhell, who would go on to win Doncaster’s Group 1 William Hill Futurity the following month.
Today’s trip of 1m 2f is sure to suit Oisin Murphy’s mount, who could prove a lively outsider for the greatest flat race in the world with a victory in this Group 3 Bet365 Classic Trial, a race which went to four subsequent Derby winners between 1979 and 1986 (Troy, Henbit, Shergar and Shahrastani).
The powerful Ballydoyle stable of Aiden O’Brien are represented by the Wootton Bassett colt Swagman, probably further down the stable’s pecking order as a potential Classic winner. The Gosden colt Damysus had little trouble winning a minor contest on Southwell’s all-weather track but a bigger danger to Windlord may come in the shape of Ralph Beckett’s I Am I Said, an impressive winner at Newmarket from some highly regarded juveniles on his only run to date.
Recommendation: Windlord (Nap) - 2/1 with BetVictor
* 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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