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Despite breaking even on Friday and Saturday, along with two out of six winning naps, the other four all finishing second, two of which were beaten a short head, we ended the week with a decent profit of +£11.61. Our good run continues with 7 winning weeks out of the last 8.
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Alan Kelly's Tips - Friday, 3 July
Sandown’s two-day Coral Eclipse meeting gets underway on Friday afternoon and we have selections for three races on the card, along with one at Beverley’s evening fixture. Watering is likely to keep the ground on the firm side of good at the Esher racecourse.
1:50pm Sandown - Havana Hurricane
No match for runaway Royal Ascot winner Bacio (tipped here at 16/1 before cruising home as the 3/1 market leader), the George Boughey-trained Westport can be forgiven that first defeat in four starts as the Blue Point gelding had little or no chance from his draw in stall 3. Off a mark of 94, Billy Loughnane’s mount will be fancied by many to get back to winning ways.
Andrew Balding's Comical Point has been running well in defeat since winning on his racecourse debut at Salisbury last May, in particular when finishing a close third in a handicap at Newmarket’s Guineas meeting. With Ryan Moore taking over in the saddle for the first time, a big run from the Kingsclere runner looks guaranteed.
The weights are headed by Eve Johnson Houghton’s HAVANA HURRICANE, winner of Royal Ascot’s Windsor Castle Stakes as a two-year-old, the Havana Gold colt making his handicap debut today off a mark of 100 in Sandown’s opener.
No match for the likes of Venetian Sun and company in the Group 1 Commonwealth Cup at last month’s royal meeting, Charlie Bishop’s mount is best judged on his previous effort when third behind Song Of The Clyde and Albert Einstein in Newbury’s Listed Carnarvon Stakes. I think Havana Hurricane is more than capable of conceding the weight to his four rivals if not inconvenienced by the return to the minimum trip.
Recommendation: Havana Hurricane - 7/2 with bet365
3:35pm Sandown - Sallaal (Nap)
Trainer Karl Burke runs the Sheikh Mohammed Obaid-owned pair of Boiling Point and Royal Rhyme in this mile and a quarter Gala Stakes. With only 1lb between the pair based on current ratings, today’s weights slightly favour the latter who has a valuable prize within him when the ground turns soft.
Third and fifth respectively in Royal Ascot’s Listed Wolferton Stakes last month, there should be little between the Newland/Insole-trained Dividend and Richard Hannon’s Persica once again, with only half a length separating the pair at the royal meeting. Roger Varian’s Frankel gelding SALLAAL (Nap) did us a favour when landing our nap at Epsom on Oaks Day, looking every inch a Group horse in the making after putting over six lengths between himself and his 15 rivals in what had looked to be a competitive handicap.
While the soft conditions at Epsom clearly suited Ray Dawson's mount, this improving four-year-old appears versatile ground-wise. If Sallaal is going to be competing against the very best throughout the rest of the season, a victory in this Listed is a must.
Recommendation: Sallaal (Nap) - 6/5 with bet365
5:15pm Sandown - Ascending Star
Eve Johnson Houghton’s Silca Bay opened his account on turf when winning an apprentice handicap at Goodwood last month, a race in which fellow rival Cristo held every chance until stumbling and unseating his rider a furlong out after clipping the heels of a rival. Both horses are quite exposed however, unlike the Owen Burrows-trained ASCENDING STAR, who will be having only his fourth start to date.
Just what the son of successful sire Starman achieved when taking the scalp of William Haggas’s long odds-on favourite Weffaag in a minor Lingfield contest five weeks ago is difficult to assess, but I think the handicapper may have taken a chance in allotting Callum Rodriguez’ mount an opening mark of 80.
Previously with James Owen as a juvenile, the three-year-old showed enough promise on both of his starts for the up-and-coming trainer to suggest Ascending Star may be a class ahead of his 10 rivals in this Class 4 contest. The other horse from the classic generation, Ed Walker’s bottom weight Thursday Girl, would be interesting if the market spoke in her favour.
Recommendation: Ascending Star - 5/2 with bet365
7:02pm Beverley - Tiva (Each-Way)
Of the 10 victories achieved by the 9-year-old mare Elegant Erin, eight on turf and two on the all-weather, five came over today’s course and distance, the most recent off a mark of 82 back in September. The daughter of Dandy Man should appreciate the return to her favourite course following six defeats, although Barry McHugh’s mount wasn’t beaten far at Nottingham on her most recent start.
Elegant Erin may need a little help from the handicapper before returning to the winners enclosure, a remark which also applies to Tim Easterby’s I’m Next, who has been raised 5lb to a career-high mark of 86 for winning at Redcar last month. On his first start for trainer Geoff Oldroyd, any market move for bottom weight Managing Director would be interesting, the lightly-raced son of Cotai Glory not seen since finishing down the field in a York nursery back in October 2024.
However, with the plum draw in stall 1, this looks a good opportunity for David O’Meara’s filly TIVA (Each-Way) to end a losing run of 6, Mark Winn’s mount last successful in handicaps at Ripon and Newmarket last August. Only 1lb higher than when winning at headquarters, the daughter of Mehmas has been running well in defeat recently and is fancied to go close with the aid of cheekpieces for the first time.
Recommendation: Tiva (Each-Way) - 10/1 with Paddy Power (3 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 Free Bets in 2008.
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