Alan Kelly’s Tips
Alan heads to Aintree on Saturday for his Nap of the Day
Get daily horse racing tips from our in-house racing expert, Alan Kelly, who has spent over 40 years in the betting industry.
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Alan also highlights his strongest selection each day, so visit our Nap of the Day page to see which horse he fancies most.
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Despite five out of six winning naps (9/4, 11/4, 3/1, 6/4, 6/4) we still managed to have a losing week, mainly down to a set of poor results on Saturday.
P/L for the week ending Sunday, 1 November: -£10.50
P/L for the year to date: +£177.88
P/L for the year 2025: +£22.38
P/L for the year 2024: +£200.42
P/L since 1st September 2022: +£678.44
Alan Kelly's Tips - Saturday, 7 November
ITV Racing will be covering some excellent horse racing action under both codes on Saturday afternoon from the meetings at Doncaster and Aintree.
The card on Town Moor features the final major handicap of the turf Flat season at 3:25pm courtesy of the Virgin Bet November Handicap.
1:15pm Aintree - Sans Bruit
Dan Skelton’s Kadastral makes his chasing debut off an opening mark of 125; and with the stable in such good form at the moment is respected in a bid to open his account over fences at the first time of asking. Preference, however, is for Paul Nicholls’ joint top weight SANS BRUIT, the mount of 5lb claimer Jay Tidball.
The eight-year-old won the Red Rum (Premier Handicap) over today’s course and distance last year off today’s mark of 130. Following wind surgery during the summer, this could be the best time to catch the selection, who clearly likes it here having finished a creditable third in that race earlier this year.
Recommendation: Sans Bruit - 5/1 with BetVictor
1:45pm Aintree - Mydaddypaddy (Nap)
Gordon Elliott’s Mange Tout has been beaten only once in five starts over hurdles, that defeat coming in a Grade 1 juvenile hurdle at the Dublin Racing Festival. While the filly is respected, this rearranged Elite Hurdle looks to concern Joe Tizzard’s Champion Hurdle fourth Alexei and Dan Skelton’s Supreme Novices’ Hurdle third MYDADDYPADDY (Nap), preference being for the latter.
Connections regard the five-year-old son of Walk In The Park as Champion Hurdle material. If that proves to be the case, Harry Skelton’s mount needs to be winning this Grade 2 contest in receipt of 4lb from the Tizzard runner.
Recommendation: Mydaddypaddy (Nap) - 6/4 with William Hill
This is Alan's Nap of the Day selection - see how it stacks up against Charlie McCann's pick.
2:10pm Doncaster - Coul Angel
With a field of 21 for this Listed 6f sprint, a race which makes only limited appeal from a betting perspective. Mick Appleby’s COUL ANGEL has been in great form recently, going down narrowly in a couple of big field handicaps at York before winning valuable contests at the Curragh and back on the Knavesmire.
Joanna Mason’s mount looks sure to be concerned in the finish once again from the four-year-old’s draw in stall 15. Montassib, Poatan and Unique Journey are just three of many potential dangers.
Recommendation: Coul Angel - 5/1 with bet365
2:25pm Aintree - Taurus Bay
Paul Nicholls’ No Drama This End and Talk To The Man, previously with the Ditcheat trainer and now with arch rival Dan Skelton, are clearly both exciting prospects over fences this season. I don’t think this is the match the betting would suggest however, in which case I would rather back Ben Pauling’s TAURUS BAY at the 13/2 currently available with Paddy Power.
The impressive winner of an Irish point-to-point at the beginning of last year, the Poet’s Word gelding won two of his four starts over hurdles, including a victory over the 134-rated Captain Hugo on this course last December. In a race where jumping is going to be the key, I would rather side with Ben Jones’ mount at the prices.
Recommendation: Taurus Bay - 13/2 with Paddy Power
2:45pm Doncaster - I’m The One
A wide-open Listed race for fillies and mares in which it may be worth giving another chance to the John & Thady Gosden contender I’M THE ONE, so impressive when making a winning debut in a Newbury maiden back in April.
While things haven’t gone to plan for the highly-regarded daughter of Sea The Stars in two subsequent starts, this much bigger field may see Sean Levey’s mount in a better light. The well bred filly clearly has loads of natural ability and should be suited by what is guaranteed to be a true-run race.
Recommendation: I’m The One - 6/1 with Coral
3:00pm Aintree - Heather Honey (Each-Way)
A wide-open Pertemps Hurdle Series Qualifier, the each-way vote going to the Parkinson/Smith-trained HEATHER HONEY (Each-Way). The seven-year-old mare is 5 from 15 over hurdles, Peter Kavanagh’s mount a comfortable winner of a Go North Brindisi Breeze Series Qualifier over today's distance at Haydock back in March.
The daughter of Getaway looked badly in need of the run when weakening to finish 5th of 6 on her reappearance at Hexham last month and is sure to strip fitter with that first outing of the season under her belt. Despite racing from 1lb out of the handicap, Heather Honey can make full use of the weight she receives from her 13 rivals.
Recommendation: Heather Honey (Each-Way) - 12/1 with Paddy Power (4 places)
3:25pm Doncaster - Stressfree (Each-Way)
While it is easy to make a strong case out for the two horses at the head of the betting for the final major handicap of the turf Flat season, Richard Hughes’ lightly-raced Nobody Knows and Alfred Wincham from the Patrick Neville stable, at a big price I think the David O’Meara-trained STRESSFREE (Each-Way) is capable of outrunning his odds.
Fifth in this race 12 months ago off a mark of 103, the six-year-old is now rated 95. Beaten just over four lengths when 6th of 22 behind Daiquiri Bay in the Ebor during the summer, the six-year-old has a good record in these valuable middle-distance contests and is handicapped to go close on his best form.
Recommendation: Stressfree (Each-Way) - 33/1 with bet365 (6 places)
3:35pm Aintree - Imperial Saint & Knight Of Allen
Dan Skelton’s Boombawn was highly tried over fences towards the end of last season, running well in defeat in the Racing Plate at the Cheltenham Festival and when 8th of 27 in the Topham at Aintree. The nine-year-old started the season with a promising run over hurdles when 6th in the Silver Trophy at Chepstow and deserves his place at the head of the betting for this 2m 4f handicap chase.
However, my two against the field for the final ITV race of the day are the Hobbs/White contender IMPERIAL SAINT and KNIGHT OF ALLEN from the Jane Williams stable. The former has recorded 3 of his 4 wins over fences on this course and patently didn’t stay the trip when 13th behind I Am Maximus in the Grand National on his most recent start.
While Knight Of Allen has yet to fulfil his potential over fences, Ciaran Gething’s mount starts the season on a decent mark of 127. The six-year-old’s one success over fences to date came over today’s trip at Newbury just before last Christmas, a repeat of which should see the gelding go close.
Recommendations: Imperial Saint - 6/1 with William Hill & Knight Of Allen - 6/1 with William Hill
* 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 against the bookmakers.
Since joining Free Bets in 2008, he has helped readers find the best value each day.
You can also follow Alan Kelly on X for more racing insight.
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