Alan Kelly’s Horse Racing Betting Tips for Thursday 4th August

Weekly Horse Racing Blog: Johnstone Winners / Cheltenham Prospects / RIP Wichita

The Racing League starts up again this week with the meeting at Doncaster on Thursday evening. The venture never really took off as was hoped last year, and despite ITV4 coverage, it remains to be seen just how successful the competition will prove to be in 2022.

Today’s horse racing tips feature selections for all seven ITV races on Town Moor.

6.40pm Doncaster - X J Rascal (Nap of the Day)

An unlucky loser at Goodwood last week, George Boughey’s talented top weight should gain some compensation with a better start on this occasion.

5.40pm Doncaster - That’s Just Dandy

No match for stablemate Cowboy Justice at Killarney last month, the Jessica Harrington-trained That’s Just Dandy can go one better in this opening Racing League contest.

That horse went on to run a fine race in a Premier Handicap at last week’s Galway Festival, and based on previous excellent efforts in competitive handicaps at Naas and Cork, Gavin Ryan’s mount is fancied to chalk this one up for Ireland.

Alan's Tip

5.40pm Doncaster

That’s Just Dandy can land the opening race for Ireland

At 13/2 a £10 bet would return £75

Doncaster

August 04, 2022

5:40 pm BST

6.10pm Doncaster - Fresh Hope (Next Best)

A winner over tonight’s course and distance back in May, the Charlie Fellows-trained Fresh Hope went on to finish sixth of 28 in the Sandringham at Royal Ascot despite having the worst of the draw.

The mount of Hayley Turner was the only one coming from a single-figure draw to make the first eight in that one-mile handicap since when the three-year-old filly has gone on to win narrowly at Leicester. This bigger field should suit Fresh Hope, who still looks well handicapped on a mark of 84.

Alan's Next Best

6.10pm Doncaster

Fresh Hope can land another course & distance victory

At 7/2 a £10 bet would return £45

Doncaster

August 04, 2022

6:10 pm BST

6.40pm Doncaster - X J Rascal (Nap of the Day)

George Boughey’s X J Rascal looked a desperately unlucky loser of a nursery at Glorious Goodwood last week. The juvenile totally fluffed the start at the West Sussex racecourse yet, after making up the lost ground, only lost out by a head in a tight finish to the race.

With a better start on Town Moor, the top weight should gain ample compensation in the hands of Kieran Shoemark and off the same lenient rating of 80.

Alan's Nap of the Day

6.40pm Doncaster

After being narrowly defeated last week, X J Rascal can land this contest

At 7/4 a £10 bet would return £27.50

Doncaster

August 04, 2022

6:40 pm BST

7.10pm Doncaster - Mojomaker

Juan Les Pins has been in cracking form since joining the stable of Michael Appleby, winning both of his starts comfortably, at Newbury and Nottingham. A 8lb higher mark will make life tougher for Paul Hanagan’s mount, preference going to the David Loughnane-trained Mojomaker.

A decent juvenile last season (fourth in Redcar’s two-year-old Trophy), the gelding has gone close twice over today’s course and distance this season and is fancied to go close again with conditions to suit.

Alan's Tip

7.10pm Doncaster

Mojomaker looks overpriced with conditions to suit

At 7/1 a £10 bet would return £80

Doncaster

August 04, 2022

7:10 pm BST

7.40pm Doncaster - Alligator Alley (Longshot)

Rated as high as 104 when trained in Ireland by Joseph O’Brien in 2020, the five-year-old Alligator Alley has yet to recapture that level of form for current handler David O’Meara. However, there were clear signs on the gelding’s most recent start at Newmarket that a victory for the once talented sprinter may not be too far away.

After being slowly away at headquarters and despite pulling for his head, Alligator Alley held every chance approaching the final furlong until his earlier exertions began to tell close home.

If settling better, and off a career-low mark of 85, Jason Watson’s mount is certainly handicapped to win a race of this nature.

Alan's Longshot

7.40pm Doncaster

Alligator Alley can go close in this handicap from a low mark

At 8/1 a £10 bet would return £90

Doncaster

August 04, 2022

7:40 pm BST

8.10pm Doncaster - Wynter Wildes

Responsible for our fancy in the 6.10pm race, Fresh Hope, trainer Charlie Fellows and jockey Hayley Turner have another decent chance of a winner in this mile and a half handicap courtesy of Wynter Wildes.

The filly has been running consistently well since taking a Hamilton handicap by six and a half lengths back in May, including when third at Chester on Sunday, and looks more than capable of winning again off her current mark of 77.

Alan's Tip

8.10pm Doncaster

Wynter Wildes looks set for a big run in a wide-open race

At 6/1 a £10 bet would return £70

Doncaster

August 04, 2022

8:10 pm BST

8.40pm Doncaster - Good Birthday

This looks a good opportunity for top weight Good Birthday to open his account for the season following some pretty stiff tests for the Andrew Balding-trained six-year-old.

Third in a Class 2 handicap at Epsom on Derby Day, Sean Levey’s mount ran better than his finishing position would suggest when 12th in York’s John Smith’s Cup last time. Despite being hampered approaching the final furlong, the gelding was still only beaten a little over six lengths. A similar effort would see the selection go close in the evening’s finale.

Alan's Tip

8.40pm Doncaster

Good Birthday can land the finale for Andrew Balding

At 9/2 a £10 bet would return £55

Doncaster

August 04, 2022

8:40 pm BST

* Odds correct at the time of writing but subject to change.

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