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Four winning days out of six and a healthy profit of +£14.26 on the week.
Trial’s Day at Cheltenham on Saturday provided several clues for the festival in just over six weeks' time, although the day felt very flat following the injury sustained by Sir Gino in the Unibet Hurdle.
The highlight of the week ahead is Leopardstown’s Dublin Racing Festival which features a total of six Grade 1 races over the two days.
- P/L for the week ending Sunday, 25 January: +£14.26
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- P/L for the year 2024: +£200.42
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Alan Kelly's Tips - Monday, 2 February
With Saturday's Dublin Racing Festival card now rescheduled to take place two days later, national hunt fans can enjoy an unexpected afternoon of top class jumps action.
The meeting at Leopardstown, featuring four Grade 1 races, is complemented by the two afternoon British jumps fixtures at Kempton Park and Southwell.
Having already posted tips for two of the races at Leopardstown (as below), we also have a third selection for the meeting along with one for the card at Kempton.
2:55pm Leopardstown - Kargese
In what looks to be a match between Gordon Elliott’s Romeo Coolio and Willie Mullins’ KARGESE, the 7lb mare’s allowance may just swing things in favour of the latter, who improved for her first run over fences at Cork to win comfortably at Leopardstown over Christmas.
I thought Romeo Coolio made hard work of beating Irish Panther over today’s course and distance on Boxing Day and would be suited by another three furlongs, the distance of his two previous wins over fences.
Recommendation: Kargese - 2/1 with Coral
3:30pm Leopardstown - I Am Maximus (Each-Way)
Well done to trainer Willie Mullins for being responsible for 8 of the 13 runners in what promises to be one of the best Grade 1 staying chasers seen in recent years. The first 5 horses home in the Savills Chase over Christmas renew rivalry, and when you add in the likes of Fact Or File, Firefox, Gaelic Warrior and the mare Spindleberry, unbeaten on all 5 starts over fences, it is hard to remember a better renewal of this Paddy Power Gold Cup. And we haven’t even mentioned reigning Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Inothewayurthinkin.
Not surprisingly, the betting is headed by Galopin De Champs, the mount of Closutton’s number one jockey Paul Townsend. At a current top price of 13/8, the 10-year-old makes little appeal from a betting perspective however, and with several bookmakers going 4 places, I would rather back 2024 Grand National winner I AM MAXIMUS (Each-Way) at 14/1.
Jack Kennedy’s mount ran a stormer to split Affordale Fury and Galopin Des Champs in the Savills Chase after being hampered at the final fence. In what looks sure to be a true-run race, I Am Maximus is expected to be staying-on better than most at the business end of what promises to be a race to savour.
Recommendation: I Am Maximus (Each-Way) - 14/1 with Paddy Power (4 places)
3:42pm Kempton - Island Run (Each-Way) (Nap)
With form figures at Kempton reading 2-2-2-2 (three over hurdles and one over fences), I’m hoping it's a case of fifth time lucky for the Hobbs/White-trained ISLAND RUN (Each-Way) (Nap) in this 2m 5f handicap hurdle. While both of the nine-year-old’s victories to date have come at Wincanton, Sean Houlihan’s mount clearly likes it here and now runs off the same mark of 104 as when narrowly beaten over an extended 3m on this course over three years ago.
Sixth on his most recent start behind the progressive C’Est Different at Newbury just over two weeks ago, Island Run was just over three lengths behind runner-up Top Guy, only weakening in the closing stages after holding every chance 2 out. This drop back in trip should suit the gelding who would certainly not be winning out of turn at the Surrey racecourse.
Robert Walford’s Snapdance ran his best race to date when second at Taunton recently and should be winning before too long, while Neil Mulholland’s hat-trick seeking Grand Conqueror is also respected.
Recommendation: Island Run (Each-Way) (Nap)
4:05pm Leopardstown - Battle Of Ridgeway (Each-Way)
Several of the 15 contenders for this valuable Listed 2m 1f handicap chase ran in the Grade 3 Dan & Joan Moore Memorial Handicap Chase at Fairyhouse just over two weeks ago, the Willie Mullins-trained Western Diago coming out on top from stablemate More Coko. While both horses will have their supporters once again, along with Gordon Elliott’s Jacob’s Ladder, Henry De Bromhead’s Jasko Des Dames and the Gavin Cromwell pair of Adragoole and Ballysax Hank, the vote goes to the Martin Hassett-trained BATTLE OF RIDGEWAY (Each-Way).
Beaten half a length by Tony Martin’s well-supported Putapoundinthejar in a 22-runner handicap hurdle at last year’s Punchestown Festival, the pair almost 10 lengths clear of the rest of the field, the mount of 5lb claimer Liam McKenna hasn’t always enjoyed the best of luck over fences, but impressed with a comfortable victory over an in-form Willie Mullins horse on his most recent start at Navan in the middle of December.
Despite a rise of 9lb to a mark of 127, Battle Of Ridgeway will still be receiving weight from the majority of his rivals and is fancied to make the frame at the very least.
Recommendation: Battle Of Ridgeway (Each-Way) - 10/1 with bet365 (4 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 Freebets.com in 2008.
You can follow Alan Kelly on Twitter for more racing insight.
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