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.
A decent profit of +£6.30 for the week ending Sunday, 13 September, although it ended with a poor weekend, despite 5/4 and 6/4 winning naps.
P/L for the week ending Sunday, 13 September: +£6.30
P/L for the year to date: +£166.55
P/L for the year 2025: +£22.38
P/L for the year 2024: +£200.42
P/L since 1st September 2022: +£667.11
Alan Kelly's Tips - Thursday, 17 September
Ayr’s Western meeting gets underway on Thursday afternoon, the ground currently described as good to soft but with the likelihood of some rain during the day.
The 21-runner sprint handicap at 2:00pm may shed some light regarding any potential draw bias ahead of Saturday’s feature race.
3:08pm Pontefract - Morbeh (Nap)
Brian Ellison’s Sea Lantern makes his handicap debut off a mark of 85 and is worth noting for any market support on the son of Sea The Stars’ first outing since finishing third behind horses rated 106 and 88 on this course back in April.
Bottom weight Traveling Man opened his account with a victory in a Newmarket apprentice handicap last month and should prove competitive off a 5lb higher mark, while Ralph Beckett’s Alma Latino should appreciate today’s drop back in trip and is capable of going well off a rating of 78. The vote, however, goes to Roger Varian’s son of Dubawi, MORBEH (Nap).
The Shadwell-owned gelding won handicaps at Lingfield, Windsor and Chester in the first half of the season before finishing 3rd of 4 off a career-high mark of 85 at Ascot on his most recent start two months ago. In what turned out to be something of a tactical affair at the Berkshire racecourse, we failed to see Cieren Fallon’s mount at his best.
Sporting a hood and stepping up to a mile and a half for the first time, Morbeh is fancied to resume the promise he showed earlier in the season with a victory in this Class 4 contest.
Recommendation: Morbeh (Nap) - 7/2 with bet365
This is Alan's Nap of the Day selection - see how it stacks up against Charlie McCann's pick too.
3:15pm Yarmouth - Soldier of The Sea (Each-Way)
Based on his three runs to date in novice company, William Knight’s SOLDIER OF THE SEA (Each-Way) fully deserves to carry top weight for this 6f nursery on his handicap debut, the son of Blackbeard potentially well treated off an opening mark of 86.
A winner on his debut at Ffos Las back in June from a horse, This Moment, who is now rated 98 following 3 subsequent victories, Tom Marquand’s mount then went of to be beaten a length and a half by Andrew Balding’s Gentle Hurricane at Salisbury, who beat all bar Ballydoyle’s Haffner in York’s Group 3 Acomb Stakes a month later, achieving a rating of 106 in the process.
Far from disgraced in 4th place when failing by a length to concede plenty of weight to his rivals in a strong juvenile race at Ascot two weeks ago, Tom Marquand’s mount can take advantage of what appears to be a lenient opening mark.
The main dangers to the selection are likely to come in the shape of stablemate Spirit Of Lyra and Godolphin’s Catching Dreams, both open to plenty of improvement, in particular the latter who will have the services of talented 7lb claimer Toby Moore.
Recommendation: Soldier of The Sea (Each-Way) - 13/2 with Paddy Power (3 places)
3:30pm Ayr - Sanafi Zabeel (Each-Way)
Since joining the Jim Goldie stable from Germany in the spring, the five-year-old Sanafi Zabeel has won 2 of his 10 starts, both coming over Hamilton’s extended one mile trip. Today’s mark of 68 is only 4lb higher than when the son Intello joined Goldie. While SANAFI ZABEEL (Each-Way) has been partnered by six different jockeys during the last four months, those two successes came with today’s rider Paul Mulrennan in the saddle.
After the second of those Hamilton wins, the gelding was sent off favourite for an amateur jockeys’ handicap at Carlisle three weeks ago, only to encounter plenty of traffic problems in the hands of Miss Kayleigh Williams. Eased down in third place when unable to make the ground up on clear leader Jewel Maker, the selection can be marked up for that effort.
Sanafi Zabeel may have most to fear from Iain Jardine’s Secret Fiddle, two lengths behind the selection at Hamilton last month and now 3lb better off at today’s weights.
Recommendation: Sanafi Zabeel (Each-Way) - 15/2 with bet365 (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 Free Bets in 2008.
You can follow Alan Kelly on X for more racing insight.
Latest Horse Racing News
