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.
Latest Profit & Loss Figures
A good start to Grand National week with the 9/1 victory of Soldier In Milan in Monday’s Irish Grand National. However, the best we could manage in Saturday’s feature race was the seventh place finish of our 50/1 long-range pick Final Orders.
The rain which fell at Aintree on Friday night and during racing on Saturday didn’t help the chances of our ante-post selection.
- P/L for the week ending Sunday, 12 April: -£11.25
- P/L for the year 2026 to date: +£57.35
- P/L for the year 2025: +£22.38
- P/L for the year 2024: +£200.42
- P/L since 1st September 2022: +£558.01
Alan Kelly's Tips - Saturday, 18 April
A tremendous afternoon of horse racing under both codes, featuring the Coral Scottish Grand National at Ayr, while over at Newbury we have a couple of Classic Trials, although we will not be seeing Constitution Hill in the Group 3 John Porter Stakes at 2:35pm.
If that is not enough to whet the appetite, ITV’s nine-race coverage also includes the Coral Scottish Champion Hurdle and the Newbury Spring Cup.
1:10pm Ayr - Sans Bruit (Nap)
Despite failing to win Aintree’s Red Rum Chase for a third consecutive year at last week’s Grand National meeting, Paul Nicholls’ SANS BRUIT (Nap) ran his best race of the season so far in finishing 3rd of the 15 runners after attempting to make all of the running.
The eight-year-old son of Triple Threat is at his best in the spring (won both of his races last April) and off his lowest mark since winning at Aintree 12 months ago, makes plenty of appeal off joint bottom weight in this extended 2m Premier Handicap. Harry Cobden’s mount may have most to fear from Le Nez Creux, who makes her debut for trainer Gavin Cromwell, the daughter of No Risk At All 2 from 4 over fences in her native France.
Recommendation: Sans Bruit (Nap) - 10/3 with bet365
1:25pm Newbury - Touleen
In a race featuring so many unexposed fillies, this Group 3 Betfred 1000 Guineas Trial should be treated with plenty of caution. Heading the betting is Owen Burrows’ TOULEEN, who disappointed when sent off at odds of 11/10 for Newmarket’s Group 2 Rockfel Stakes on her final run as a juvenile.
The daughter of Lope De Vega ruined her chances by hanging badly to her right at headquarters in a race won by the Crisford’s Zanthos. Touleen had previously proved far too good for that horse at Leicester and Saffie Osborne’s mount deserves another opportunity to fulfil her earlier promise.
Recommendation: Touleen - 2/1 with Coral
1:45pm Ayr - Young Jack (Each-Way)
A race in which it is hard to rule out many of the 15 runners, the vote going to the Chris Grant-trained YOUNG JACK (Each-Way), the mount of jockey Danny McMenamin who is enjoying an excellent season (9 winners from his last 32 rides).
A dual winner over hurdles, the Champs Elysees gelding has made a good start to his career over fences, opening his account at the 5th attempt with an easy victory at Newcastle last month.
Narrowly beaten in three of his other four starts ( a below-par run on this course can be excused following a couple of early serious mistakes), Young Jack was beaten a little over a length by King Of Answers on his chasing debut at Kelso in December, that horse now a leading fancy for the Scottish National later in the afternoon following his excellent second in the National Hunt Chase at the festival.
Recommendation: Young Jack (Each-Way) - 16/1 with Coral (4 places)
2:00pm Newbury - Albert Einstein
It doesn’t take a genius to work out that we didn’t see Ballydoyle’s ALBERT EINSTEIN at his very best when the Wootton Bassett colt could only manage to finish a never-nearer sixth at the Curragh on his reappearance towards the end of last month, the unbeaten juvenile upped in trip to 7f for the first time on his first outing at three.
When unable to get to grips with the leaders as the pace quickened 2 out, Ryan Moore’s mount wasn’t given a hard time of things, and is sure to improve with that run under his belt, as has been the case with many Ballydoyle horses having their first start of the season.
With the aid of a hood for the first time, and on today’s much livelier ground, there can be no excuses on this occasion, the result of which will decide as to whether the colt heads to Newmarket for the 2000 Guineas or takes the Commonwealth Cup route. A best price 10/1 with Coral for the first classic of the season, Albert Einstein can get his season back on track with a victory over Dewhurst fourth Zavateri and the race-fit Title Role. After all, it's not rocket science.
Recommendation: Albert Einstein - 3/1 with Coral
2:20pm Ayr - All In You (Each-Way)
Reluctant to line up at Cheltenham in the Champion Hurdle, Paul Nicholls’ Tutti Quanti may be capable of defying top weight in this Scottish Champion Hurdle if getting away with the rest of the field on his favoured soft ground. However, while the Warren Greatrex stable could be in better form, I like the chances of his ALL IN YOU (Each-Way), despite the mount of James Bowen having to race from 5lb out of the handicap.
Following his comfortable victory at Sandown in January, All In You was well fancied for Newbury’s William Hill Hurdle won by Tutti Quanti, only to be pulled-up on ground barely raceable, the six-year-old’s cause not helped by being hampered turning for home. Not seen since then, All In You will be a fresh horse on his first start for two months, and gets the vote ahead of Dan Skelton’s Tellherthename, who showed promise on his first start for the stable when beaten a little over seven lengths in Cheltenham’s County Hurdle.
Recommendation: All In You (Each-Way) - 7/1 with Betfred
2:35pm Newbury - Al Aasy
Despite the non-appearance of Constitution Hill, this is still a fascinating renewal of the Group 3 John Porter Stakes. All seven runners are capable of a big run, with the vote going to the old man of the party in the William Haggas-trained AL AASY.
The nine-year-old has won 11 of his 28 starts to date, four of which came on this course. Given too much to do when fifth behind fellow rival Convergent at Leopardstown in September (meets Karl Burke’s charge on 16lb better terms), Tom Marquand’s mount can be forgiven his run in Newbury’s St Simon Stakes on his most recent start when missing the break on ground which didn’t suit.
Recommendation: Al Aasy - 7/2 with Coral
2:55pm Ayr - Fox’s Fancy (Each-Way)
Despite opening as short as 9/4 for this mares’ handicap hurdle, top weight World Of Fortunes looks to have it all to do, despite her amateur rider’s 7lb claim. Off a mark 22lb lower, I would rather side with the Russell/Scudamore-trained FOX'S FANCY (Each-Way).
The daughter of Kayf Tara was slightly disappointing earlier in the season, but was always going better than favourite Bollin Matilda when easily beating that horse (went on to win Musselburgh’s Brindisi Breeze Series Final last month) on this course at the beginning of March.
Recommendation: Fox’s Fancy (Each-Way) - 9/1 with bet365
3:10pm Newbury - Back In Black (Each-Way)
A field of only 26 for this Newbury Sprint Cup, one of the most open renewals of recent years. The betting is headed by BACK IN BLACK (Each-Way) at a best price 13/2 with William Hill and it is easy to make a strong case out for Daniel Muscutt’s mount.
An impressive winner over today’s course and distance 12 months ago, after which the grey son of Dark Angel did little wrong during the rest of the season, culminating in a creditable fourth on Kempton’s all-weather surface behind the Gosden’s 109-rated Chancellor.
On just his 10th career start, Back In Black has more improvement to come, and despite having to face 25 rivals, I expect a big run from the four-year-old. Best of those at a double-figure price may be last year’s winner Ebt’s Guard.
Recommendation: Back In Black (Each-Way) - 13/2 with William Hill
3:35pm Ayr - Kim Roque
Joseph O’Brien's KIM ROQUE was on my shortlist for last week's Irish Grand National only for the six-year-old to be rerouted to this Scottish version. Following the withdrawal of Kim Roque’s stablemate Banbridge at Monday's declaration stage, the weights have risen by a massive 23lb, putting O’Brien's charge in with a nice weight of 10st 13lb.
A staying-on fourth of 23 in Cheltenham's Kim Muir last time, the gelding’s first try at a trip in excess of three miles, the mount of JJ Slevin looks the type to be suited by this kind of marathon trip. With the stable in such good form, Kim Roque makes plenty of appeal. Of those at a double-figure price, Mark Walford's Chasingouttheblues can make the frame.
Recommendation: Kim Roque - 5/1 with Unibet
* 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 Freebets.com in 2008.
You can follow Alan Kelly on X for more racing insight.
Latest Horse Racing News
