Alan Kelly’s Tips
Alan heads to Cheltenham on Friday with his strongest fancy of the day
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Latest Profit & Loss Figures
A frustrating week ending Sunday 7th December with seven seconds, including that of 25/1 selection Breeze Of Wind in Kelso’s Scottish Borders National on Sunday, resulting in a small loss of -£4.47 over the seven days.
- P/L for the week ending Sunday 7th December: -£4.47
- P/L for the year 2025 to date: +£55.91
- P/L for the year 2024: +£200.42
- P/L since 1st September 2022: +£541.90
Alan Kelly's Tips - Friday, 12 December
Cheltenham’s two-day December meeting on the New course is due to start on soft ground, although the Cross Country track is currently riding good.
1:15pm Cheltenham - Kel Du Large (Each-Way)
Dan Skelton’s Fortune De Mer won a Grade 2 hurdle on the Old course at Cheltenham's October meeting when just holding the sustained challenge of runner-up Doctor Blue by a short head. Making his handicap debut at Ascot last month, the Doyen gelding looked set to win again when coming to challenge leader Trustintimes jumping the last.
Harry Skelton’s mount found precious little in the closing stages however, and while clearly talented, is likely to be vulnerable up the Cheltenham hill. Fergal O’Brien’s Leloopa was the comfortable winner of a conditional jockeys’ handicap at Cheltenham on his most recent start following a wind op and a rise of just 6lb looks more than fair.
Nicky Martin’s French Emperor is on a hat-trick following wins at Worcester and at Cheltenham’s November meeting and is respected. However, in receipt of weight from his 10 rivals on his handicap debut, Jane Williams’ KEL DU LARGE (Each-Way) gets the vote with just 10st 4lb to shoulder.
A heavy ground Listed Bumper winner on Cheltenham’s New Years Day meeting last year, the No Risk At All gelding had little trouble in opening his account on his hurdling debut at Hereford the following month, after which the five-year-old was not seen again until reappearing at Exeter 621 days later.
While only third of the six runners at the Devon track, Ciaran Gething’s mount was entitled to need that race run on good ground. With that race under his belt and under today’s softer conditions, Kel Du Large is fancied to go close off what may prove to be a lenient opening mark of 114.
Recommendation: Kel Du Large (Each-Way) - 8/1 with bet365 (4 places)
1:50pm Cheltenham - L’Homme Presse (Nap)
The Venetia Williams stable looks to be running into form following a quiet start to the season, the recent easy victories of Djelo and Authodidacte suggesting the trainer, who usually enjoys a good December, may be worth supporting during the rest of the month.
Williams’ 162-rated L'HOMME PRESSE (Nap) heads the weights for this £100k Premier Handicap, a race in which four of the nine contenders will be racing from out of the handicap. Not seen since pulling up in the Grade 1 Betfair Ascot Chase back in February, the 10-year old has an excellent record first time out,especially when racing on his favoured soft ground.
Eight from 14 over fences, Charlie Deutsch’s mount is a class act when conditions are in his favour. The Diamond Boy gelding has won 3 of his 4 starts at Cheltenham, that one defeat coming courtesy of a creditable fourth place finish behind Galopin Des Champs in last year’s Gold Cup.
Despite having to concede between 16lb and 26lb to his rivals, I think L’Homme Presse will prove up to the task. Fourth of the 18 runners when sent off favourite behind Gordon Elliott’s Three Card Brag at Cheltenham’s October meeting, Henry De Bromhead’s The Short Go is the other one to consider off his featherweight.
Recommendation: L’Homme Presse (Nap) - 9/2 with Coral
3:00pm Cheltenham - J’Arrive De L’Est (Each-Way)
Plenty of the 14 runners in this Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase have course form to their name, including the 2nd, 3rd, 6th and 14th horses home in last year’s renewal along with French challenger Iceo Madrik who unseated his rider at the third fence when strongly fancied.
Making his racecourse debut for shrewd Irish trainer Emmet Mullins, I like the chances of the ex French-trained six-year-old J'ARRIVE DE L'EST (Each-Way), who could do well in this type of race for his new stable off an opening mark of 123. The son of It’s Gino is 5 from 10 over fences and was far from disgraced when 7th of 18 in a Listed handicap at Auteuil on his most recent start back in March.
Donagh Meyler’s mount can take advantage of his low weight at the main expense of Chris Gordon’s Unanswered Prayers, who can prove best of those at a double-figure price.
Recommendation: J’Arrive De L’Est (Each-Way) - 7/1 with Paddy Power (4 places)
* 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 Freebets.com in 2008.
You can follow Alan Kelly on Twitter for more racing insight.
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