Get fresh daily selections and a standout Nap of the Day from our in-house racing expert, Alan Kelly.
Looking to boost your bets? Discover the latest betting offers from the UK's best betting sites.
For live TV action, head to our ITV Racing Tips hub for expert picks on the biggest races, and explore Ryan Moore booked rides for detailed insights on one of flat racing's most successful jockeys.
Latest Profit & Loss Figures
Despite winners at 8/1 and 7/4 on Saturday, a minor loss of -£3.50 on the week, mainly down to blank days on Wednesday and Thursday.
- P/L for the week ending Sunday, 29 March: -£3.50
- P/L for the year 2026 to date: +£68.60
- P/L for the year 2025: +£22.38
- P/L for the year 2024: +£200.42
- P/L since 1st September 2022: +£569.26
Alan Kelly's Tips - Monday, 6 April
A busy Easter Monday for horse racing with five meetings in Britain and two in Ireland, the highlight being the Boyle Sports Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse.
The 3m 5f handicap chase gets underway at 5:00pm.
2:35pm Plumpton - Scorsese (Each-Way) (Nap)
With prize money of £65k up for grabs, a disappointing turnout of only 5 runners for this Betgoodwin Sussex Champion Handicap Chase run over 2m 1f, the field headed by Alan King’s 12-year-old veteran Edwardstone. Rated as high as 170 at his peak of three years ago, Tom Cannon’s mount has been running well enough of late to suggest he can go close here off a mark of 151.
James Owen’s Secret Des Dieux is clearly an improving young chaser, who had little trouble recording victories at Huntingdon and Kempton on his last two starts. However, despite having to race from 8lb out of the handicap, I expect a big run from the Neil Mulholland-trained SCORSESE (Each-Way) (Nap), the eight-year-old’s weight disadvantage negated somewhat by the 7lb claim of jockey Harry Atkins.
Third after making most of the running in a valuable novices’ handicap chase at Cheltenham’s January meeting (seven lengths ahead of Secret Des Dieux and 10lb better off with Jonathan Burke’s mount), Scorsese ran well on his most recent start when third again at Newbury, despite being hampered at a crucial stage, a race in which 4 of the 5 horses behind have all won since. This front-running son of Schirocco is fancied to take plenty of pegging back off his featherweight. Bet365’s opening show of 10/1 is way too big.
Recommendation: Scorsese (Each-Way) (Nap) - 8/1 with bet365 (2 places)
4:40pm Kempton - Final Night
Beaten at odds of 2/5 at Wolverhampton last month when found to have had an irregular heartbeat, the Andrew Balding-trained Ted Le Saux makes his handicap debut in this London Mile Series Qualifier off what may prove to be a very lenient mark of just 78
Oisin Murphy's mount could well prove the one to beat based on earlier promise, but I prefer to side with a horse who looks guaranteed to run his race and will be attempting to record a third victory in his last four starts.
John Butler's FINAL NIGHT had a busy time in 2025, racing on no less than 14 occasions, winning races on his last two starts of the year over today’s course and distance. Beaten less than a length on his first start of 2026 at Newcastle, Rossa Ryan’s mount returned to winning ways with another success over today’s course and victory last month.
The Muhaarar gelding is in such good heart at the moment that a 4lb higher mark may not be enough to prevent this ultra-consistent performer from recording a fifth career victory at the track.
Recommendation: Final Night - 4/1 with William Hill
5:00pm Fairyhouse - Soldier In Milan & Waterford Whispers (Each-Way)
The impressive winner of a point-to-point two years ago, the seven-year-old SOLDIER IN MILAN, after winning a 22-runner Bumper at Punchestown on his first start for trainer Emmet Mullins last May, beating last month’s Cheltenham Festival winner King Rasko Grey by almost 5 lengths, was sent straight over fences this season, most recently when staying-on to finish a never-nearer fourth in a Grade 3 chase at Thurles last month.
Donagh Meyler’s mount, a winner from fellow rival Kiss Will at Punchestown on his penultimate start, will be making his handicap debut in this stamina-sapping Irish Grand National off an opening mark of 142. The Soldier Of Fortune gelding, tongue-tied for the first time, is likely to improve significantly for today’s step-up in trip and in a race which looks to have been a long-time plan for a stable which makes few mistakes.
With a maximum field of 30 runners set to go to post, I will also back WATERFORD WHISPERS (Each-Way) who just creeps in to the race at number 30, the JP McManus-owned eight-year-old, one of five contenders for the leading owner, and the sole representative of trainer Henry De Bromhead.
Darragh O’Keeffe mount has yet to open his account over fences, but a repeat of his close third in a valuable 23-runner handicap at the DRF over an inadequate trip would put the Westerner gelding in with a decent chance of at least making the frame with just 10st 6lb to carry.
Recommendations: Soldier In Milan - 9/1 with BetVictor & Waterford Whispers (Each-Way) - 33/1 with Coral (5 places)
Grand National (Antepost) - Final Orders (Each-Way)
With less than a month to go before the 2026 renewal of Aintree’s Randox Grand National, a good time to try and pinpoint a bit of early value in the ante-post market for the world’s most famous steeplechase. At the 50/1 currently available with William Hill about Gavin Cromwell’s Final Orders, I think last week’s Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase winner is way overpriced for the extended 4m 2f test of jumping and stamina.
Currently standing at number 40 in the pecking-order and with a maximum permitted field of 34, the 10-year-old is not guaranteed his place, but with several doubtful runners higher up in the handicap I will be surprised if the Camelot gelding ends up as one of the reserves. A greater doubt revolves around possible ground conditions at the Merseyside racecourse on April 11th, as Final Orders needs decent going to produce his best form.
With current top weight I Am Maximus (winner in 2024) a certain runner barring accidents, Final Orders has a lovely racing weight of just 10st 5lb. Five of the first 12 winners of the race in the 21st century were 10-year-olds, and while Cheltenham's cross country chase has only been going since 2005, dual Grand National winner Tiger Roll won that unique three miles five and a half furlong contest in both of the years he was victorious at Aintree.
Of Final Orders’ seven successes over fences, five came over distances ranging from two to three miles, showing the kind of versatility needed to win a race requiring both pace and stamina in equal measures (also a winner over 1m 4f on the flat). If conditions are similar at Aintree to those of last week (good to soft), a reproduction of his comfortable victory over favourite Favori De Champdou would give the selection a much better chance of emulating Tiger Roll than his current odds would indicate.
Recommendation: Final Orders (Each-Way) - 50/1 with Unibet (4 places)
* Betting odds correct at the time of publication. All odds are subject to changes.
Latest Horse Racing Tips, Stats & Trends
Check out more from the Freebets horse racing hub, including tips, stats, market movers and today’s racecards!
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 X for more racing insight.
Latest Horse Racing News
