Alan Kelly’s Tips
Alan heads to Cheltenham on Saturday for his Nap of the Day
Get daily horse racing tips from our in-house racing expert, Alan Kelly, who has spent over 40 years in the betting industry.
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Alan also highlights his strongest selection each day, so visit our Nap of the Day page to see which horse he fancies most.
Latest Profit & Loss Figures
A cracking week ending Sunday, 8 November, with a profit of £24.18 to a £1 level stake.
Having selected the 1-2 in the Melbourne Cup at 6/1 and 25/1, we continued in good form throughout the week with winners at 20/1, 10/3, 11/4, 5/1 and 13/2.
P/L for the week ending Sunday, 8 November: +£24.18
P/L for the year to date: +£202.06
P/L for the year 2025: +£22.38
P/L for the year 2024: +£200.42
P/L since 1st September 2022: +£702.62
Alan Kelly's Tips - Saturday, 14 November
ITV Racing's coverage on Saturday afternoon features five races from Cheltenham and two from Windsor. The main event at Prestbury Park is the Paddy Power Gold Cup at 2:20pm.
1:10pm Cheltenham - Atomic City
Jases Owen won this Triumph Hurdle Trial in both 2023 and 2024 and of his two runners on this occasion, Charles Darnay looks the best following his impressive debut success at Wetherby last month. Harry Cobden’s mount is expected to prove best of the home runners, but faces a strong challenge from across the Irish Sea, in particular the Joseph O’Brien-trained ATOMIC CITY.
Third behind subsequent Epsom Derby third James J Braddock on his Flat debut around this time last year, J J Slevin’s mount ran out a cosy winner on his first outing over hurdles at Cork last month and looks the type to make his mark over the smaller obstacles.
Recommendation: Atomic City - 3/1 with bet365
1:25pm Windsor - Lucky Bere (Each-Way)
This Challenger Stayers’ Hurdle Series Qualifier is an almost impossible puzzle to solve with all 15 contenders holding some kind of a chance. Emma Lavelle’s handicap debutante Kildanan Prince could be well treated racing off an opening mark of 120, but I would rather back Kayley Woollacott’s LUCKY BERE (Each-Way) at a double figure price.
Rex Dingle’s mount ran well for a long way when 7th in a Pertemps Qualifier at Cheltenham last month and is expected to improve significantly for that first run in eight months.
Recommendation: Lucky Bere (Each-Way) - 16/1 with Paddy Power (4 places)
1:45pm Cheltenham - Kabral Du Mathan (Nap)
Two of the most exciting novice chasers for the current campaign contest this Grade 2 Arkle Trial, Nicky Henderson’s Old Park Star, unbeaten in four starts over hurdles including the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at the festival, and the Dan Skelton-trained KABRAL DU MATHAN (Nap), fourth in the Stayers’ Hurdle at Cheltenham after looking all over the winner jumping the last.
In what is sure to prove a significant guide to the two mile novice chase division going forward, preference is for Kabral Du Mathan, who has had the benefit of a run this season when put in an excellent round of jumping when winning on his chasing debut at Perth last month. A race not to be missed.
Recommendation: Kabral Du Mathan (Nap) - 5/4 with Paddy Power
This is Alan's Nap of the Day selection - see how it stacks up against Charlie McCann's pick.
2:20pm Cheltenham - Norn Iron (Each-Way)
Ben Pauling’s Meetmebythesea was an impressive winner of the Grade 2 Jack Richards at the Cheltenham Festival and is clearly very useful. Now racing off a mark 12lb higher on his first run of the season and at odds no bigger than 3/1, Harry Cobden’s mount has to be taken on from a value perspective.
While each-way claims can be made for many of the 14 other runners, including Irish raiders July Flower and Zurich, both from the Henry De Bromhead stable, the vote goes to the Harry Derham-trained NORN IRON (Each-Way). After winning a couple of races over today’s trip at Sandown earlier in the year, Paul O’Brien’s mount ended the season with a creditable effort at the Punchestown Festival when finding only Willie Mullins’ classy Funiculi Funicula too good in a Listed 22-runner novices’ handicap.
Recommendation: Norn Iron (Each-Way) - 16/1 with Paddy Power (5 places)
2:55pm Cheltenham - Aimeric (Each-Way)
Another fiercely competitive Prestbury Park handicap. Dan Skelton’s top weight Ace Of Spades will improve significantly for his run on this course last month, but has been well found in the market at a current best price of 9/2, a remark which also applies to Tom Symonds’ Gold For Alec, runner-up in that race and now racing off a mark 3lb higher.
Rated 108 on the Flat when trained first by Roger Varian and then by Karl Burke, the Frankel gelding AIMERIC (Each-Way) has taken a few runs to get the hang of things over hurdles but has won on his last two starts, both coming at Sedgefield when beating fellow rival William Yeats.
With the 5lb claim of jockey William Shanahan, a big run from Aimeric would come as no surprise in receipt of weight from all of his rivals.
Recommendation: Aimeric (Each-Way) - 16/1 with William Hill (5 places)
3:10pm Windsor - Secret Squirrel
Hughie Morrison’s SECRET SQUIRREL won the valuable Fitzdares Sovereign Handicap Hurdle over today’s course and distance last year off today’s mark of 126, beating a talented field of hurdlers which included the classy Kabral Du Mathan back in second spot.
Tom Cannon’s mount missed the majority of last year but ran well to finish third on the Flat at Nottingham 10 days ago, a run which should have put the seven-year-old spot-on for his first start over hurdles since finishing 5th in the Scottish Champion Hurdle back in April.
Recommendation: Secret Squirrel - 7/2 with Coral
3:30pm Cheltenham - Moneygarrow
Making his handicap debut off a mark of 133, Dan Skelton’s MONEYGARROW is expected to be better suited by today’s trip of 2m 5f rather than the 3m encountered when finishing 8th in the Grade 1 Albert Bartlett at the Cheltenham Festival.
After making steady headway from the rear at Prestbury Park, Harry Skelton’s mount looked the most likely winner jumping the final hurdle only to find very little on the punishing run for home. Today’s 3f shorter trip on good ground looks perfect conditions for the son of Shantou, who may well turn out to be better than a handicapper.
Moneygarrow received a positive report from Skelton in a recent trainer file, who envisages plenty of improvement from the six-year-old this season.
Recommendation: Moneygarrow - 7/4 with bet365
* 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 against the bookmakers.
Since joining Free Bets in 2008, he has helped readers find the best value each day.
You can also follow Alan Kelly on X for more racing insight.
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