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A fabulous week ending Sunday 3 May, in particular a couple of outstanding days on Friday and Saturday with winners at 2/1, 4/1, 13/2 (25p R4), 11/10, 11/8, 9/1 10/1, and 11/1.
Our one losing nap of the week came on Sunday when Sacred Ground could only manage to finish second in Newmarket’s opener.
- P/L for the week ending Sunday, 3 May: +£37.96
- P/L for the year 2026 to date: +£105.06
- P/L for the year 2025: +£22.38
- P/L for the year 2024: +£200.42
- P/L since 1st September 2022: +£605.72
Alan Kelly's Tips - Saturday, 9 May
Saturday’s ITV Racing action features a total of nine races, five from Lingfield Park, three from Ascot and one from Haydock Park.
12:55pm Lingfield - Salamanca City
On his first start for Oli Rix since leaving the William Haggas yard, the betting is likely to prove the best guide to the chances of Noble Horizon. Oliver Coles’ Twisting Physics made a promising reappearance when 6th at Newbury last month, although the stable has yet to hit form this season. In contrast, James Fanshawe’s horses have been running well of late and his SALAMANCA CITY may prove the one to beat.
The daughter of Phoenix Of Spain has finished out of the frame only twice in her 12 starts on turf (including three wins), both of which came on soft ground. A narrow winner at Yarmouth on her most recent start, Daniel Muscutt’s mount has been raised 3lb to a mark of 80 but looks more than capable of following up.
Recommendation: Salamanca City - 11/2 with William Hill
1:15pm Haydock - Helnwein (Each-Way)
On just his second start for champion trainer Dan Skelton, and following a decent effort when staying-on to be beaten just over 7 lengths in the County Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, it is no surprise to see the stable’s Tellherthename head the betting for this £80k Swinton (Premier Handicap) Hurdle.
At a best price 3/1 as I write, Harry Skelton’s mount is short enough on what the Malinas gelding has achieved to date, in which case I would rather back the Alan King-trained HELNWEIN (Each-Way) at the 12/1 currently available with bet365.
Runner-up to the well-handicapped Alexei in Cheltenham’s Greatwood Hurdle on his first start of last season, Tom Bellamy’s mount fell 2 out in Plumpton’s Sussex Champion Hurdle last month and prior to that found himself in the lead too early when caught close home in a handicap at Newbury the previous month.
Off a mark of 132, the consistent Walk In The Park gelding is more than capable of going close.
Recommendation: Helnwein (Each-Way) - 12/1 with bet365 (5 places)
1:28pm Lingfield - Romantic Symphony
Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien is responsible for two of the five contenders for this Listed Oaks Trial, Bloom and Cameo, 66/1 and 50/1 respectively for Epsom. Both fillies’ appear some way down the Ballydoyle pecking order however, in which case this may go to a horse not entered for the Classic in the shape of Godolphin’s ROMANTIC SYMPHONY, whose Betfred 1000 Guineas fifth Albashira would appear to be the stable’s only hope of winning the Oaks.
This is a big step-up in class for William Buick’s mount, who had little trouble in winning minor contests at Newmarket as a juvenile and on Kempton’s all-weather surface last month. The daughter of Dubawi looks more of a Ribblesdale type and can head to the royal meeting with her unbeaten record intact.
Recommendation: Romantic Symphony - 13/8 with bet365
1:45pm Ascot - Zgharta
After winning a Newmarket maiden at last year’s Guineas meeting, Andrew Balding’s ZGHARTA failed to add to that victory in five subsequent attempts. However, the daughter of Ghaiyyath failed to enjoy the best of luck on several occasions, in particular when getting no sort of a run when fifth in a valuable fillies’ handicap at Goodwood’s Glorious meeting.
Seventh of 25 in the Sandringham at the royal meeting, Oisin Murphy’s mount ended the season with a respectable fourth in a Heritage Handicap at York’s Ebor meeting before failing to get the rub of the green once again in Saint-Cloud Listed race.
An opening handicap mark of 89 looks more than fair for a filly we have yet to see the best of.
Recommendation: Zgharta - 10/3 with Wiliam Hill
1:58pm Lingfield - Maltese Cross
Unlike the previous Oaks Trial, this race could shed some light on the Derby picture, as all six runners hold an entry in the world’s most famous Flat race. If Isaac Newton was to win this Listed trial, the home team may as well wave the white flag regarding any credible opposition to the Ballydoyle Derby bandwagon.
William Haggas’s MALTESE CROSS (20/1 with William Hill) and Godolphin’s Maho Bay (33/1 with bet365) look to have the best chances of enhancing their Derby claims. Of the two, I prefer the former, who looked to be crying out for this kind of trip when getting up close home to win a strongly-contested Darley EBF Novice Stakes at Newbury last month over a furlong and a half shorter.
By Sea The Stars and out of a Camelot mare, Tom Marquand’s mount may have more stamina than Godolphin’s Maho Bay, whose dam, La Pelosa, is by top sprinter Dandy Man. Hopefully, a win for Maltese Cross will instil some life into the current Ballydoyle dominated Derby picture.
Recommendation: Maltese Cross - 10/3 with bet365
2:20pm Ascot - Khafiz (Each-Way)
I’ll be surprised if there is a more competitive 7f handicap run all season than this Carey Group Victoria Cup, the field of 29 headed by joint top weights Witch Hunter and Golden Mind. With plenty of extra places available, the each-way vote goes to the Ed Bethell-trained Khafiz.
Previously with Roger Varian, I backed the son of New Bay on his first start for Bethell when contesting a valuable 7f handicap at Haydock last month. I thought Callum Rodriguez’ mount was going better than anything when challenging for the lead going inside the final two furlongs, only for the four-year-old’s effort to peter out close home. KHAFIZ (Each-Way) is guaranteed to come on for that run, the four-year-old’s first in 6 months, and on just his 8th career start, the gelding can only improve upon his promising form to date.
Recommendation: Khafiz (Each-Way) - 16/1 with bet365 (6 places)
2:40pm Lingfield - Dash Of Azure
A Group 3 winner in Ireland last summer and now with Kingsclere trainer Andrew Balding, Copacabana Sands is best watched on her debut for the stable unless the market speaks in favour of the Sands Of Mali filly. William Knight’s Royal Velvet ran out an impressive winner of an 18-runner handicap at Newmarket’s Craven meeting last month and is respected, although slight preference is for the Ralph Beckett-trained DASH OF AZURE.
Just touched off in the Listed October Stakes at Ascot in October, the daughter of Blue Point is more than capable of winning at this level and comes from a stable with few equals where fillies are concerned.
Recommendation: Dash Of Azure - 4/1 with Coral
2:55pm Ascot - Valedictory (Nap)
Despite a field of 15, this mile and a half handicap may not be as competitive as the numbers would suggest, and an excellent opportunity for the John & Thady Gosden-trained VALEDICTORY (Nap) to go one better than when making his handicap debut at Newbury last month.
Backed into odds of 5/6 for that 1m 2f Class 4 contest, the Cracksman gelding, while never looking quite like getting there, stayed-on strongly to get to within a neck of winner Rathgar (has won again since) with fellow rival Bulletin another neck back in third.
In-form jockey Billy Loughnane has been booked to partner the unexposed four-year-old on this occasion for the powerful Godolphin operation. Valedictory looks to be crying out for today’s extra two furlongs and with the stable continuing in excellent form, I expect the selection to take plenty of beating.
Recommendation: Valedictory (Nap) - 2/1 with bet365
3:15pm Lingfield - Dragon Leader
Rated 98 after winning a valuable sales race at York's Ebor meeting two years ago, Clive Cox's DRAGON LEADER has now dropped to a mark of just 81 following nine defeats since his last victory in Redcar’s Listed Two Year Old Trophy later that year.
After being gelded and undergoing wind surgery, the five-year-old has performed well enough this season to suggest he is ready to take advantage of his current lowly rating. Newbury Spring Cup fourth Back In Black is the obvious danger.
Recommendation: Dragon Leader - 17/2 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 Freebets.com in 2008.
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