Alan Kelly’s Tips
Alan heads to Doncaster on Friday for his Nap of the Day
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Following three excellent weeks we were due a bad one, and since Sea Lantern’s narrow Cesarewitch defeat little has gone right, the week ending Sunday 18th October resulting in a loss of -£13.82.
P/L for the week ending Sunday, 18 October: -£13.82
P/L for the year to date: +£199.60
P/L for the year 2025: +£22.38
P/L for the year 2024: +£200.42
P/L since 1st September 2022: +£700.16
Alan Kelly's Tips - Friday, 23 October
Horse Racing tips for the meetings at Doncaster and Cheltenham on Friday afternoon.
A cracking afternoon of horse racing action under both codes, although there is a precautionary 8.00am inspection at Newbury. The ground for Doncaster’s Flat card is currently described as soft, good to soft in places, while Cheltenham’s first fixture of the season is due to start on good going. With rain forecast for all three venues, ground conditions are expected to ease during the day.
1:35pm Doncaster - Bulletsnap (Nap)
Making his handicap debut off a mark of 87 in this 6f nursery, William Haggas’s Bulletsnap opened his account at the fourth attempt when winning at Ripon towards the end of last month. The son of Minzaal showed only minor promise on his first three starts, at Goodwood, Doncaster and Windsor, but looked a totally different proposition when running out an impressive winner at the Garden Racecourse last time.
Sent off the 15/8 second favourite behind Richard & Peter Fahey’s Scenic Route, a horse who had previously finished a promising third in a hot York maiden, Bulletsnap never looked in any danger of defeat, coming home a wide-margin winner after making all of the running.
Cieren Fallon’s mount should have more improvement to come and can prove too good for top weight Big Cigar, who takes a big drop in class following unplaced efforts in Listed and Group company at Goodwood and York.
Recommendation: Bulletsnap (Nap) at Evens
This is Alan's Nap of the Day selection - see how it stacks up against Charlie McCann's pick.
1:50pm Cheltenham - Passing Diamond
On the face of it, Ben Haslam’s Passing Diamond faces a difficult task in an effort to keep his unbeaten record over fences, Richie McLernon’s mount successful on all three chase starts, two at Cartmel and most recently at Hexham 13 days ago when easily beating subsequent Durham National winner Passengerontheship.
With a current rating of 128, Passing Diamond has to concede 8lb or more to his four rivals, three of which are rated higher. Despite those two significant disadvantages, the six-year-old has taken to fences so well, jumping like an old hand on all three occasions, and is therefore worth chancing on a course where ability in that department is at a premium.
The two Irish challengers, Gordon Elliott’s Bowensonfire and Jarrive De Me from the Willie Mullins stable have yet to win over fences, a bigger danger to the selection possibly that of Ice Jet for champion trainer Dan Skelton.
Recommendation: Passing Diamond at 10/1
2:10pm Doncaster - Kodi Lion & Rousing Encore
With the ground already riding soft on Town Moor and likely to get more testing, my two against the field for this 6f 18-runner sprint handicap are the Mick Appleby-trained Kodi Lion and Rousing Encore from the Ruth Carr stable.
Both horses have a good record when the mud is flying, the former landing a big gamble when strolling home on heavy ground at Haydock last month off a 6lb lower mark. Cieren Fallon’s mount didn’t enjoy the best of luck when 5th of 17 over 7f at Leicester 10 days ago and will appreciate the return to today’s furlong shorter trip.
Rousing Encore’s form on soft or heavy ground over the last two years has resulted in a host of cracking efforts, most recently narrow defeats at Ayr and Haydock last month. Now running off a mark only 1lb higher than when finishing a three quarters of a length third of 22 on heavy ground over today’s course and distance last November, James Sullivan's mount looks sure to run another big race with conditions to suit.
Recommendation: Kodi Lion at 12/1 and Rousing Encore at 12/1
3:35pm Cheltenham - Sans Bruit
A bit of a lopsided 2m handicap chase with 5 of the 9 runners racing from out of the weights, although only marginally. Dan Skelton’s Calico will be going for a hat-trick of wins in the race and has an excellent record following a break. Harry Skelton's mount has been well beaten on all four starts this season, but with the stable going so well, it is impossible to dismiss the chances of the veteran 10-year-old.
JPR One faces a stiff test in an effort to concede the best part of two stones to most of his rivals. Sam Thomas’s Palacio is another with a good record fresh and capable of going well, while Henry De Bromhead’s Sky Lord is respected for a trainer who does well at this meeting. However, following wind surgery during the summer, the vote goes to the Paul Nicholls-trained Sans Bruit, with jockey Harry Cobden booked to ride for his old boss.
Now running off a similar mark to when easily winning the Red Rum (Premier Handicap) at last year’s Grand National meeting at Aintree, the son of Triple Threat would take plenty of beating on his best form if that wind op proves to have been a success.
Recommendation: Sans Bruit at 10/1
4:30pm Doncaster - Aberama Gold (E/W)
This will be the 123rd career start for the David O’Meara-trained nine-year-old Aberama Gold, who has been a great servant for the yard over the years with 12 wins from 79 starts on turf along with four successes on the all-weather.
The son of Heeraat’s greatest victory came in the 2023 Stewards Cup, a race run on heavy ground. While Mark Winn’s mount now runs off an 18lb lower mark, the gelding keeps his form well and is more than capable of winning a race of this nature when conditions are in his favour.
While successful on all types of ground, I think Aberama Gold is at his best under testing conditions. Runner up on good to firm ground at Pontefract on his most recent start, I expect another big run from the selection, with William Stone’s lightly raced Big Harry and Alpha Magic feared most.
Recommendation: Aberama Gold (E/W) at 11/1
* 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 Free Bets in 2008.
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