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Latest Profit & Loss Figures
With 15 winning days out of the last 17, another very good week with a profit of +£18.37, making it the third successful week in a row, the highlights being the victories of Sea Thrift (11/1 on Thursday) and Pep Talking (16/1 with a 5p R4 on Saturday).
- P/L for the week ending Sunday, 2 November: +£18.37
- P/L for the year 2025 to date: +£60.94
- P/L for the year 2024: +£200.42
- P/L since 1st September 2022: +£546.93
Alan Kelly's Tips - Saturday, 8 November
The ITV Racing cameras will cover a mammoth 10 races on Saturday afternoon, 5 from Wincanton, 3 from Doncaster and 2 from Aintree.
The action gets underway at 12:55pm and concludes at 3:45pm with the Virgin Bet November Handicap on Town Moor
12:55pm Aintree - Kyntara
Several of the 7 runners will be using this Pertemps Hurdle Series Qualifier as a prep run before going back over fences, the tentative vote going to the Mel Rowley-trained KYNTARA. Runner-up in last year’s Pertemps Final off today’s mark of 131, Charlie Deutsch’s mount didn’t really take to fences last season and may do better back over the smaller obstacles.
Recommendation: Kyntara - 4/1 with Coral
1.10pm Wincanton - Tapley
A race which makes little appeal as a betting medium, but Suzy Smith’s bottom weight TAPLEY is worth another try over fences after failing to make the frame in three chases towards the end of last year. The eight-year-old is rated 5lb higher over hurdles (runner-up in last year’s Swinton Hurdle) and will come on for his run at Plumpton last month.
Recommendation: Tapley - 9/2 with BetVictor
1:25pm Doncaster - Spycatcher (Each-Way)
In receipt of 5lb from the other two highest-rated contenders (Art Power and SPYCATCHER) for this Listed sprint, the William Haggas-trained Montassib is clearly the one to beat. However, at odds of around 6/4, I would rather back Karl Burke’s runner (Each-Way) at the 13/2 available with William Hill.
The seven-year-old will relish today’s conditions, as was the case when pulling clear of his rivals in a Group 3 contest at Chantilly 12 days ago, and should make the frame at the very least if repeating his effort when winning the Cammidge Trophy on this course back in March.
Recommendation: Spycatcher (Each-Way) - 13/2 with William Hill
1:45pm Wincanton - Jubilee Alpha
Eighth in the Dawn Run at the Cheltenham Festival before ending the season with an easy victory in a Listed race at the April meeting at Prestbury Park, the Paul Nicholls-trained JUBILEE ALPHA has to concede plenty of weight to her 6 rivals. The daughter of Flemensfirth is an exciting prospect however and can begin her campaign with a win in this mares’ handicap hurdle before stepping-up in class.
Recommendation: Jubilee Alpha - 13/8 with Paddy Power
2:23pm Wincanton - Cobra Queen
Rated 151 over hurdles, Paul Nicholls’ Blueking d’Oroux was beaten at odds of 2/9 on his chasing debut at Newton Abbot last month when looking far from natural over his fences. At a best price 8/11, I would rather oppose Harry Cobden’s mount with Henry De Bromhead’s Irish challenger COBRA QUEEN in receipt of the 7lb mare’s allowance.
The daughter of Milan has improved with each of her four runs over fences, most recently when easily winning a Roscommon handicap under a big weight. The mare’s greater experience could be the deciding factor.
Recommendation: Cobra Queen - 11/5 with Paddy Power
2:40pm Aintree - Jet Plane (Each-Way) & Vintage Fizz (Each-Way)
Form over the big fences is always a big plus when attempting to solve this fiendishly difficult handicap run over 2m 5f of the Grand National course, my two against the field being last year’s runner-up VINTAGE FIZZ (Each-Way), who meets the winner King Turgeon on 13lb better terms for the length which separated the pair, and Dan Skelton’s JET PLACE (Each-Way), who beat all bar winner Gracchus De Balme in the Foxhunters back in April.
Harry Skelton takes over from Jack Andrews on the latter, while the booking of jockey Sam Twiston-Davies for Jedd O’Keeffe’s charge takes the eye.
Recommendations: Jet Plane (Each-Way) - 12/1 with Betfred (5 places) & Vintage Fizz (Each-Way) - 20/1 with Paddy Power (5 places)
2:55pm Wincanton - No Bet
Once again this Grade 2 contest has attracted a small field. Long odds-on favourite Rubaud bids to win the race for the third year running after defeating 3 rivals in 2023, 1 more than 12 months ago. This should be a fairly straightforward task for the Nicholls’ runner, barring accidents that is.
3:10pm Doncaster - Danielle (Nap)
John & Thady Gosden’s DANIELLE (Nap) probably ran her best race to date when finishing second to Estrange in this race 12 months ago, the daughter of Cracksman just losing out to David O’Meara’s classy filly inside the final 100 yards. Despite a field of 18, there is nothing of that calibre in this year’s renewal.
A respectable 5th in the Qipco British Champions Fillies’ & Mares at Ascot last month on ground faster than ideal, James Doyle's mount should take plenty of beating at the 2/1 available with William Hill in this mile and a quarter Listed contest.
Recommendation: Danielle (Nap) - 2/1 with William Hill
3:30pm Wincanton - Gustavian
Trainer Paul Nicholls has won this valuable early-season handicap chase a record 11 times and is represented on this occasion by top weight Threeunderthrufive. Runner-up in the race two years ago, the 10-year-old has a good record fresh, but on this occasion slight preference is for last year’s third, the Anthony Honeyball-trained GUSTAVIAN.
Rex Dingle’s mount did well to finish third 12 months ago after being badly hampered by a faller and is fancied to go close off a 1lb lower mark and following a wind op during the summer.
Recommendation: Gustavian - 5/1 with William Hill
3:45pm Doncaster - Hopewell Rock & Miller Spirit (Each-Way)
A wide-open renewal of this famous handicap, my you against the field being George Boughey’s lightly-raced HOPEWELL ROCK, who, on just his sixth career start, is open to plenty more improvement and will appreciate the soft conditions on Town Moor, and last year’s sixth horse home MILLER SPIRIT (Each-Way), who is now rated 8lb lower and has the services of 7lb claimer Toby Moore.
The latter looked to be running into form when narrowly beaten at Newbury last month (disqualified for carrying the incorrect weight) and is another who will relish today’s testing conditions.
Recommendations: Hopewell Rock - 13/2 with bet365 & Miller Spirit (Each-Way) - 16/1 with Paddy Power (6 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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