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
With very little turf racing taking place, we ended the week with a small profit of +£1.61, although three of our four naps obliged at odds of 11/4, 6/1, and 3/1 (25p R4).
- P/L for the week ending Sunday, 11 January: +£1.61
- P/L for the year 2026 to date: -£7.99
- P/L for the year 2025: +£22.38
- P/L for the year 2024: +£200.42
- P/L since 1st September 2022: +£508.37
Alan Kelly's Tips - Friday, 16 January
The ITV Racing cameras will be covering races from Windsor (first day of the Winter Million), Market Rasen and Newcastle on Friday afternoon.
Good to soft conditions are expected at both jumps fixtures.
2:05pm Market Rasen - Mahons Glory
Winner of this veterans’ chase 12 months ago, Gary Hanmer’s The Flier Begley will attempt to record his third success on the course, the 11-year-old’s sole defeat coming when pulled-up in the ultra-competitive Unibet Summer Plate in July on the gelding’s most recent start. Now running off a mark 15lb higher than when beating favourite Nocte Volatus by just over three lengths last year, Jack Hogan’s mount may be in the grip of the handicapper at the moment.
The Warren Greatrex-trained Bill Baxter is probably at his best over slightly shorter; on the other hand Nicky Richard’s Doyen Du Bar would have major claims if Callum Bewley’s mount was not inconvenienced by this big step-up in trip. Hughie Morrison’s Filanderer will need to jump better than when attempting to land a five-timer (5th of 6) at Newbury on his most recent start.
Fifth in the 3m 2f Becher Chase over Aintree’s big fences last month, Dylan Cunha’s MAHONS GLORY drops back to a more suitable 2m 5f after leading his rivals (including Bill Baxter in 6th place) a merry dance for most of the race at the home of the Grand National, only weakening approaching the final fence.
Fourth in the Grand Sefton before that, Lee Edwards’ mount made all of the running to win races at Leicester and Stratford back in March, the latter off today’s mark of 134. I expect the 10-year-old to take plenty of beating if able to repeat either of those Aintree efforts.
Recommendation: Mahons Glory - 4/1 with William Hill
3:00pm Windsor - Potters Charm
Kerry Lee’s Nemean Lion will attempt to repeat his victory in this race of 12 months ago when beating Salver by half a length. An excellent third in a drama-filled Fighting Fifth hurdle on his reappearance, Conor O’Farrell’s mount is sure to make a bold bid in an effort to record back-to-back successes in this £100k contest.
Dan Skelton’s Take No Chances ran well in defeat on her two most recent starts, both in Grade 2 company, and is respected for a stable which continues in excellent form. However, I think this looks like a good opportunity for the Twiston-Davies-trained POTTERS CHARM to get his season back on track after failing to get the rub of the green so far.
The seven-year-old completed a five-timer at the beginning of last season before finishing fifth behind The New Lion in the Turners at the festival. An early faller (stumbled) when heavily-supported for Wetherby’s West Yorkshire Hurdle on his reappearance, Sam Twiston-Davies’ mount ran better than his finishing position of 4th would suggest behind Impose Toi in Ascot’s Grade 1 Long Walk Hurdle and should appreciate this drop in both company and trip.
Recommendation: Potters Charm - 3/1 with Betfred
3:35pm Windsor - Great Fleet (Each-Way)
A tremendous £110k handicap hurdle to end Windsor’s ITV Racing coverage, headed by the Jonjo & A J O’Neill-trained Wilful, winner of a valuable Premier Handicap at Ascot’s in the lead-up to Christmas, and Dan Skelton’s Live Conti, 10th in that race but sure to come on plenty for his first outing in 261 days.
Skelton is also responsible for Knickerbockerglory, Listentoyourheart and GREAT FLEET (Each-Way) with jockey Tristan Durrell in the saddle. Making his handicap debut off an opening mark of 126, the latter gets the each-way vote in a seriously competitive finale.
Runner-up behind the 135-rated Conman John in a hot Cheltenham novices’ hurdle back in October, Great Fleet wasn’t given a hard time of it when his chance had gone behind Paul Nicholl’s exciting No Drama This End in a Grade 2 at Prestbury Park on his next start.
The six-year-old was given a nice confidence-booster when making all for a comfortable victory in a Kelso maiden last month; a mark of 126 may have underestimated the potential of this unexposed hurdler on his handicap debut.
Recommendation: Great Fleet (Each-Way) - 7/1 with bet365 (5 places)
4:05pm Windsor - Joe Cotton (Each-Way) (Nap)
An open 2m 6f handicap chase to end Windsor’s excellent 7-race card, featuring a field of 12 runners. Margaret’s Legacy, Aviation, As The Fella Says and Impatient all have claims. However, I like the chances of Jeremy Scott’s lightly-weighted JOE COTTON (Each-Way) (Nap), the mount of Lorcan Williams.
An easy winner of the Smith & Western Chase Series Final at Fontwell back in March off a mark of 98, the gelding is now rated 112 despite 5 defeats, all down to the eight-year-old’s consistency. Second on this course on New Year’s Day behind a rejuvenated Toothless, Joe Cotton is fancied to go one better in receipt of weight from all but one of his rivals.
Recommendation: Joe Cotton (Each-Way) (Nap) - 10/1 with Paddy Power (4 places)
* 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 Twitter for more racing insight.
Latest Betting Offers
Check the latest free bets and betting offers from the best betting sites in the UK at Freebets.com.
