Alan Kelly’s Tips

Alan heads to Wolverhampton on Friday for his best bet of the day

Updated: January 8, 2026 at 4:00 pm GMT+0

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Alan Kelly's Tips - Friday, 9 January

With Friday’s turf fixtures in the balance as I write, we will concentrate on the all-weather Friday Night Live card at Wolverhampton for today’s horse racing selections, the final seven races due to be shown live on ITV Racing.


7:30pm Wolverhampton - Ash Wednesday 

Trainer Heather Main’s stable has been quiet over the holiday period, their sole runner Zoulu Warrior winning on this course just after Christmas. Main has several fancied runners tonight, including course specialist ASH WEDNESDAY in this 7f Class 5 handicap.

The mount of in-form jockey Jack Mitchell is 6 from 10 on an artificial surface, four of which came on this course. The grey five-year-old would be unbeaten at Wolverhampton but for finishing an unlucky nose second here on Boxing Day 2024. 

Following three defeats on turf last summer, the five-year-old will appreciate the return to his favourite surface and can continue his excellent record at the track off a still reasonable mark of 75. Richard Fahey’s Monsieur Kodi, the mount of talented 5lb claimer Warren Fentiman has each-way claims along with Michael Attwater’s Arantes Nascimento, a beaten favourite at Chelmsford last week, both horses due to go up 1lb in the future.

Recommendation: Ash Wednesday - 4/1 with Unibet


8:30pm Wolverhampton - Tonal (Nap)

The Ian Williams stable has had 6 winners from their last 24 runners over the last fortnight, one of which was achieved by the six-year-old TONAL (Nap) on this course last week. That was the fourth success for the gelding in his last 5 starts, the one defeat coming at Kempton last month when having to settle for the runner-up spot behind Tony Carroll’s Foreseen in a London Mile Series Qualifier.

Tonal now runs off a mark 22lb higher than when recording the first of those 4 wins at Chelmsford in October but is still 1lb well-in tonight under a 5lb penalty. All of those wins came with 5lb claimer Ryan Kavanagh in the saddle and the partnership can take tonight’s finale in receipt of weight from all but one of his rivals before the handicapper has his say.

Marco Ghiani’s mount Advancing, previously with trainer James Ferguson, won on his first start for Marco Botti on this course just after Christmas and may give Tonal most to do off a 7lb higher mark.

Recommendation: Tonal (Nap) - 7/2 with Virgin Bet


* 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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Alan Kelly
Alan Kelly

A successful punter, with a keen eye for value, Alan has had many betting highlights down the years including a scoop 6 win and has shown a consistent profit in the battle with bookmakers since joining freebets.com.

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