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Despite another excellent week with a profit of +£17.13 to a £1 level stake, we can count ourselves unfortunate due to the narrow defeats of Silver Lake (6/1) and Baldomero (10/1) on Friday and Sea Lantern’s mugging in Saturday’s Cesarewitch (advised at 6/1), all beaten a matter of inches.
P/L for the week ending Sunday, 11 October: +£17.13
P/L for the year to date: +£213.42
P/L for the year 2025: +£22.38
P/L for the year 2024: +£200.42
P/L since 1st September 2022: +£713.98
Alan Kelly's Tips - Friday, 16 October
The ground is going to be very testing for the meeting at Haydock Park on Friday afternoon, while conditions are described as good for the other two fixtures at Redcar and Uttoxeter.
2:02pm Uttoxeter - Safe Destination (Nap)
The Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies stable has made an excellent start to the new Jumps season and I think this could be the best time to catch their six-time winning chaser SAFE DESTINATION (Nap).
Pulled-up on his two most recent starts, at Fakenham just before Christmas and at Haydock in March, the Pether’s Moon gelding has won twice following a long break, and was far from disgraced on his reappearance last season when finishing a close third behind the 89-rated Upfordebate, who now runs off a mark of 112.
Only 2lb higher than when successful in a conditional jockeys handicap chase at Chepstow around this time last year, Sam Twiston-Davies’ mount opened his account over fences with a victory over today’s course and distance three years ago and is fancied to continue the stable’s good form at the main expense of Donald McCain’s Camarrate.
Recommendation: Safe Destination (Nap) - 6/1 with bet365
This is Alan's Nap of the Day selection - see how it stacks up against Charlie McCann's pick.
2:52pm Haydock - Maximising
While the David O’Meara-trained pair of eight-year-olds, Darkness and Rhoscolyn, could be fancied for this one mile handicap if running up to their best, I think this Class 3 contest rests between William Haggas’s Venetian Lion and MAXIMISING from the Kevin Philippart De Foy stable.
The former landed a hat-trick of wins during the late summer with victories at Nottingham, Newmarket and Pontefract before failing to land the four-timer when finishing a close third on Kempton’s all-weather surface off today’s mark of 81. While the return to turf should suit Tom Marquand’s mount, this will be the first time the son of St Mark’s Basilica has raced on ground any worse than good.
In contrast, Maximising, following a couple of narrow defeats on Lingfield and Kempton’s artificial surfaces, had little trouble handling the soft conditions at Windsor towards the end of August when opening his account with a comfortable success over today’s trip. Sent off the 3/1 joint favourite for a Class 4 handicap at Hamilton on his most recent start, Maximising looked an unlucky loser in finishing a half length third.
David Egan’s mount coped well with the heavy ground on that occasion, and with a clearer passage the gelding can provide his in-form stable with another winner.
Recommendation: Maximising - 2/1 with bet365
3:47pm Uttoxeter - Rula Bula
Uttoxeter stages a cracking mares’ beginners chase at 2.37pm, featuring five contenders rated between 119 and 137. Of particular interest is Folie Golith on her first start for Faye Bramley since leaving the French stable of Jeremy Da Silva. A race to watch with a view to the future.
From a betting perspective, I am more interested in this 2m handicap chase which sees the first outing over fences for the Jonjo & A J O’Neill-trained RULA BULA. The seven-year-old daughter of Mount Nelson has the scope to make her mark over fences and recorded both of her wins over hurdles following breaks of 8 months.
After winning a competitive Go North Sea Pigeon Series Qualifier at Carlisle last November, Jonjo O’Neill Jr’s mount failed to repeat that level of form in three subsequent starts but now makes her chasing debut racing off a very handy mark of 119.
The seven-year-old mare clearly goes well fresh, and with the stable in such good form, this looks a good opportunity for Rula Bula to make a winning debut over the bigger obstacles. Another horse having his first run over fences is Sam Allwood’s Sweeper System, who may prove the main danger to the selection along with Sean Bowen’s mount Bobbi’s Beauty.
Recommendation: Rula Bula - 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 Free Bets in 2008.
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