Alan Kelly’s Tips
Alan heads to Newton Abbot on Wednesday for his Nap of the Day
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A disappointing week ending Sunday, 25 October, which resulted in a loss of -£11.22 despite winning naps at 5/1 and 11/8 along with an opening 4/1 success on Saturday.
P/L for the week ending Sunday, 25 October: -£11.22
P/L for the year to date: +£188.38
P/L for the year 2025: +£22.38
P/L for the year 2024: +£200.42
P/L since 1st September 2022: +£688.94
Alan Kelly's Tips - Wednesday, 28 October
The ground is sure to be testing for Nottingham’s Flat card on Wednesday, where there is a precautionary inspection at 8:00am on Tuesday morning.
Conditions should be much better for the two Jumps meetings taking place at Newton Abbot and Huntingdon.
2:16pm Nottingham - Wise Prince (Each-Way)
The five-year-old Ebt’s Guard has been running consistently well in many of the major one mile handicaps all season, making the frame in the Royal Hunt Cup, Coral Challenge and Ascot’s Balmoral Handicap to name but three. Lewis Edmunds’ mount would certainly not be winning out of turn following a losing run of 14.
Kevin Philippart De Foy’s Mr Swivell blew his 16 rivals away when winning at York earlier in the month but is far from certain to repeat that form in today’s higher grade. Ralph Beckett’s Centigrade did us a favour when winning on heavy ground at Haydock Park last month when settling much better than had been the case when fancied for a Sandown Listed race 10 days earlier.
If able to get a soft lead from his draw in stall 1, Hector Crouch’s mount could prove the one to beat, although decent claims can be made out for both Jamie Osborne’s Room Service and Oolong Poobong from the Ed Bethell stable. However, I think we have yet to see the best of John & Thady Gosden’s one-time Derby hope WISE PRINCE (Each-Way) this season, and now that the son of Ghaiyyath has been gelded, the mount of Robert Havlin can finally begin to justify his earlier promise.
The last time we saw Wise Prince was when the three-year-old finished 8th of 30 in the Britannia (Heritage Handicap) at the royal meeting. Of the first 11 horses home in that ultra-competitive contest, Wise Prince was the only one to race on the far side, and can be marked up considerably for that effort. While the each-way selection has yet to encounter ground this soft, there is nothing to suggest he won’t handle conditions.
Recommendation: Wise Prince (Each-Way) - 6/1 with Ladbrokes (3 places)
2:21pm Newton Abbot - Star Of Affinity (Nap)
The Joe Tizzard stable has been in cracking form in the last week and his STAR OF AFFINITY (Nap) is fancied to keep the good run going with a victory in this Brewers Decorating Centres Albany Derby Female Jockeys’ Handicap Chase. The seven-year-old will be partnered by the excellent Lilly Pinchin for the first time on the gelding’s fifth start over fences.
The selection showed promise on his first two outings over fences around this time last year before cantering home in a match at Plumpton earlier this year following a break of almost 3 months. Something was clearly amiss with Star Of Affinity on his most recent start back in March when finishing last of four finishers at Stratford.
The son of Affinisea, 3 from 13 over hurdles, has a good record following a break and should prove hard to beat with doubts surrounding all of his rivals. Paul Nicholls’ It’s A Breeze, a dual winner on this course during the summer, has been beaten off higher marks in two subsequent starts over today’s course and distance.
Jamie Snowden’s Dwight K Schrute fell on his only previous experience of fences, while Enjoy d’Allen, Pepe Le Moko and Alright Dai were all well beaten on their most recent starts.
Recommendations: Star Of Affinity (Nap) - 11/4 with bet365
This is Alan's Nap of the Day selection - see how it stacks up against Charlie McCann's pick.
3:21pm Newton Abbot - Opening Bid
The 11-year-old OPENING BID may be at least 3 years older than any of today’s opponents in this extended two mile handicap chase, but on just his second start for in-form trainer Joe Tizzard, the veteran son of Native Ruler can teach his younger rivals a lesson or two.
With 7 victories from 25 starts over fences for previous trainer Chris Down, including three on this course, Brendan Powell’s mount is by far and away the most experienced of today’s runners. Following wind surgery during the summer, Opening Bid made his debut for Tizzard in a 2m handicap hurdle at Chepstow earlier this month.
Weakening in the closing stages to finish 4th of the 15 runners, Opening Bid is sure to improve with that run under his belt and can prove too good for Syd Hosie’s chasing debutante Sinchi Roca and Irish raider Mo Ghille Mar, who showed some promise on his first two starts over fences at Ballinrobe and Fairyhouse over the last couple of months.
Recommendations: Opening Bid - 3/1 with bet365
* 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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