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.
Despite four winning naps out of six (4/1, 9/4, 2/1 and 6/4 (10p R4) we ended the week with just a small profit of +£2.35.
This week's action heads to Town Moor for Doncaster’s St Leger meeting which gets underway on Thursday, while over in Ireland it is Champions weekend at Leopardstown (Saturday) and the Curragh (Sunday).
P/L for the week ending Sunday, 6 September: +£2.35
P/L for the year to date: +£160.25
P/L for the year 2025: +£22.38
P/L for the year 2024: +£200.42
P/L since 1st September 2022: +£660.00
Alan Kelly's Tips - Saturday, 12 September
ITV Racing are due to cover eight races on Saturday afternoon, five from Doncaster, two from Chester and the Group 1 Matron Stakes from Leopardstown.
The feature race is the final English classic of the season on Town Moor, the Betfred St Leger Stakes, the world’s oldest classic due to get underway at 3:35pm.
1:30pm Chester - Dubai Honour
Based on current ratings, the William Haggas-trained DUBAI HONOUR has at least 11lb in hand over his 5 rivals in this extended mile and a half Listed contest. Eight from 33 on turf, the Pride of Dubai gelding has won on ground ranging from good to firm to very soft.
Beaten less than two lengths when third in Newbury’s extended 1m 5f Group 3 Geoffrey Freer Stakes last month, Cieren Fallon’s mount probably has his ideal conditions this afternoon and should prove too good for main rival Plage De Havre.
Recommendation: Dubai Honour - 5/6 with Coral
1:45pm Doncaster - Sergei Diaghilev
Godolphin’s Desert Castle justified the market confidence at Newmarket on his racecourse debut last month when running out an easy winner, despite the son of Frankel still looking very much a work in progress. The form of the race has taken several subsequent knocks however; in which case odds of around 11/10 look short enough about Billy Loughnane’s mount.
Only 9th of 25 when sent off the 11/4 favourite for Royal Ascot’s Windsor Castle Stakes, Ballydoyle’s Wootton Bassett colt SERGEI DIAGHILEV has since won Gowran Park’s Listed Churchill Stakes and is clearly better than he showed at the royal meeting.
Ballydoyle won this race 12 months ago with the unconsidered Puerto Rico, it would be no surprise to see Aidan O’Brien’s charge come out on top against Charlie Appleby’s hot favourite.
Recommendation: Sergei Diaghilev - 6/1 with bet365
2:05pm Chester - Cranachan
A case can be made for plenty of the 12 contenders for this £100k two mile handicap on the Roodee, including the three Irish challengers, headed by Willaim Durkan’s top weight Holy See. The least exposed runner with just the four runs on turf to date is Ralph Beckett’s three-year-old son of Cracksman, CRANACHAN, who can defy a rise of 9lb for his easy victory over today’s course and distance last month.
Nicola Currie’s mount appreciated the step-up to this trip for the first time and looks to have a lot more improvement to come.
Recommendation: Cranachan - 7/2 with William Hill
2:20pm Doncaster - Getreadytorumble
Unless those horses drawn low turn out to have an advantage on Town Moor, this below-par Portland (Heritage Handicap) looks a great opportunity for Jack Channon’s GETREADYTORUMBLE to get back in the winner’s enclosure for the first time since winning at this meeting 12 months ago when partnered by today’s rider Tom Marquand.
The grey has been running well in Listed and Group company this season before returning to handicap company at Ascot on his most recent start in July. Beaten just half a length by the in-form All Ways Glamorous off top weight after failing to get the best of runs, this classy four-year-old sprinter is fancied to defy today’s mark of 102. Drawn in stall 20 of 22, the selection has plenty of pace around him and is expected to be finishing fast and late.
Recommendation: Getreadytorumble - 11/2 with Betfred
2:55pm Doncaster - More Thunder (Nap)
Last successful in Newbury’s Group 2 Hungerford Stakes last August, the William Haggas-trained MORE THUNDER (Nap) can finally open his account at the 5th attempt this season following some tremendous efforts in defeat, in particular when beaten half a length by Ten Bob Tony in Royal Ascot’s Queen Anne Stakes with the likes of Opera Ballo, Zeus Olympios and Notable Speech behind.
That form is way ahead of anything achieved by his seven rivals this season. Beaten just over two lengths in the Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville on his most recent start, Tom Marquand’s mount should have no trouble dropping back down in trip for this 7f Group 2 contest.
Recommendation: More Thunder (Nap) - 5/4 with bet365
This is Alan's Nap of the Day selection - see how it stacks up against Charlie McCann's pick too.
3:35pm Doncaster - Hatteen (Each-Way)
Despite the presence of Epsom Derby winner Christmas Day, this is a far from vintage renewal of the oldest classic, which celebrates its 250th anniversary this year. Of the leading contenders, slight preference is for Great Voltigeur runner-up Pierre Bonnard over Joseph O’Brien’s improving Enceladus. However, at the 16/1 available with Betvictor and Coral, I think Andrew Balding’s HATTEEN (Each-Way) represents decent value from a stable which can do little wrong this season.
The son of Lope De Vega has improved with each of his six runs to date and looked a bit unlucky when narrowly beaten in a 1m 4f handicap at Glorious Goodwood. Hatteen’s jockey, Faleh Bughenaim, may be unfamiliar to many but is regarded as the best rider in Qatar.
The extended 1m 6f distance of the St Leger will test the stamina of many of the 11 runners but is unlikely to trouble Hatteen, who looks sure to be suited by today’s step-up in trip.
Recommendation: Hatteen (Each-Way) - 16/1 with Coral (3 places)
3:55pm Leopardstown - True Love (Each-Way)
Juddmonte’s Blue Bolt has had the measure of Ballydoyle’s Irish 1000 Guineas winner Precise on both of the occasions the two fillies have faced each other, first of all in Newmarket’s Falmouth Stakes and most recently last month’s Prix Rothschild at Deauville when Colin Keane’s mount came out on top by half a length.
While both horses dominate the betting for this Group 1 Matron Stakes, I think Ballydoyle’s second string TRUE LOVE (Each-Way) represents decent value against the two market principles, now that the daughter of No Nay Never steps back up to a mile for just the second time since her comfortable victory in Newmarket’s Betfred 1000 Guineas back in May.
Despite four subsequent defeats, True Love has been running well enough to suggest she is capable of going close under what are possibly her ideal conditions.
Recommendation: True Love (Each-Way) - 8/1 with William Hill (3 places)
4:15pm Doncaster - Inspired (Each-Way)
An open one mile handicap to end ITV’s coverage for the afternoon, for which the Karl Burke-trained INSPIRED (Each-Way) gets the vote. The improving son of Dubawi has won on his last two starts, competitive handicaps at Goodwood and York, yet has risen only 5lb in the weights.
That latest victory came in an apprentice race on the Knavesmire on Sunday with the excellent Toby Moore in the saddle. Another talented apprentice, Jack Nicholls, takes over on the four-year-old this afternoon with his handy 3lb claim.
Inspired is likely to go up to a mark in the region of 90 when reassessed and can make a bold bid to land the hat-trick before the handicapper has his say.
Recommendation: Inspired (Each-Way) - 10/1 with William Hill (5 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 Free Bets in 2008.
You can follow Alan Kelly on X for more racing insight.
Latest Horse Racing News
