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Latest Profit & Loss Figures
A week of two halves with winning days on Friday and Saturday keeping the loss down to a marginal -£0.64.
We had three winning naps out of six, the highlight being the 8/1 ante-post success of Anglers Crag in Newcastle’s Eider Chase.
- P/L for the week ending Sunday, 22 February: -£0.64
- P/L for the year 2026 to date: +£39.49
- P/L for the year 2025: +£22.38
- P/L for the year 2024: +£200.42
- P/L since 1st September 2022: +£540.15
Alan Kelly's Tips - Saturday, 28 February
ITV Racing is set to cover a mammoth 10 races on Saturday afternoon, five from Kelso, three from Doncaster and two from Newbury.
The coverage comes to an end with Newbury’s BetVictor Greatwood Gold Cup (Premier Handicap) at 3:45pm.
1:10pm Kelso - Doyen Du Bar (Nap)
After winning 3 of his 6 races over fences for previous trainer Pauline Robson, the 10-year-old DOYEN DU BAR (Nap) joined the Nicky Richards stable towards the end of last year. Despite failing to trouble the judge in three starts for Richards, Danny McMenamin’s mount has done little wrong and is fancied to defy top weight in Kelso’s 2m 1f opener.
Stepping-up to an extended 2m 5f for the first time at Market Rasen last month, the Doyen gelding, after leading 3 out, failed to get home over a trip which proved too much of a stamina test for a horse whose 6 wins to date (one Bumper, two hurdles and three chases) have all come over much shorter.
Recommendation: Doyen Du Bar (Nap) - 5/1 with Paddy Power
1:25pm Doncaster - Limerick Lass (Each-Way)
Not a race which makes a great deal of appeal from a betting perspective, the tentative vote going to Anthony Honeyball’s LIMERICK LASS (Each-Way). Beaten a short head by fellow rival Livingonaprayer at Wincanton almost three months ago, Ben Godfey’s mount is set to meet Jamie Snowden’s runner on 7lb worse terms this afternoon.
However, following her bloodless win at Fontwell last month, and on her first try at today’s extended 3m trip, a bold bid is expected from the daughter of Soldier Of Fortune.
Recommendation: Limerick Lass (Each-Way) - 9/1 with Coral (3 places)
1:40pm Kelso - No Bet
In what should prove to be little more than a schooling session for Dan Skelton’s Protektorat, this Listed £60k Premier Chase makes no appeal whatsoever as a betting medium. A race to watch.
1:55pm Doncaster - Queens Gamble
A Listed Bumper winner at Cheltenham in 2022 when trained by Oliver Sherwood, QUEENS GAMBLE, how in the care of up-and-coming trainer Harry Derham went on to win at the same level over hurdles at Taunton in December 2023, the daughter of Getaway now having her fourth start over the bigger fences.
Following defeats at Bangor and Musselburgh, Paul O’Brien’s mount finally opened her account as a chaser with a comfortable victory at Wincanton two weeks ago. The mare has the potential to improve upon her current chase mark of 132, and in receipt of 10lb from Warren Greatrex’ hat-trick seeking Mighty Bandit, is fancied to come out on top.
Recommendation: Queens Gamble - 3/1 with BetVictor
2:15pm Kelso - Lord Byron
In receipt of plenty of weight from his 10 rivals, it could be worth taking a chance on the ex Ballydoyle inmate LORD BYRON for this Grade 2 novices’ hurdle, the Camelot gelding now in the care of trainer Faye Bramley. Danny McMenamin’s mount stayed-on to be beaten just fourth lengths in a Grade 2 juvenile hurdle at Cheltenham last month (fifth horse home won last week’s Adonis Hurdle by 13 lengths) and is sure to appreciate the extra furlong of today's race.
Recommendation: Lord Byron - 11/1 with bet365
2:30pm Doncaster - New Order & Some Scope
My two against the field for this ultra-competitive Grimthorpe Chase are Charlie Longsdon’s NEW ORDER and 2024 runner-up SOME SCOPE from the in-form Richard Hobson stable. The former has been running consistently well all season and on 5lb better terms can turn the tables on Anthony Honeyball’s Dartmoor Pirate, the pair first and second in the Great Yorkshire Chase on Town Moor last month.
Some Scope has an excellent record on this course, as apart from when finishing second in this race two years ago, the son of Telescope has recorded two wins on the course, the most recent when making all of the running for a comfortable success in the hands of 5lb claimer Charlie Maggs over the Christmas period, today’s rider’s claim now reduced to 3lb. The eight-year-old didn’t take to Cheltenham’s cross country course last time and will appreciate the return to a course that clearly suits.
Recommendations: New Order - 9/1 with BetVictor & Some Scope - 17/2 with William Hill
2:55pm Kelso - Bespoke Tailor (Each-Way)
A below-par renewal of this valuable Morebattle Hurdle with the 137-rated Irish challenger Laafi heading the weights. 1lb behind William Durkan’s charge is Ewan Whillans’ Cracking Rhapsody, who will attempt to win the race for a third year running. Off a mark only 4lb higher than when beating a decent field 12 months ago, it is easy to see why Craig Nichol’s mount, despite three unplaced efforts on his most recent starts, heads the market at no bigger than 5/1.
While it is easy to make a case out for many of the other 16 runners, in particular Jet To Vegas, Hamlet’s Night, Hot Fuss and Quaviste, at a big price the each-way vote goes to the Oliver Signy-trained BESPOKE TAILOR (Each-Way), the mount of Gavin Sheehan. Making his handicap debut off a mark of 120, the Malinas gelding may have come up a good one when finishing a clear second-best behind Nicky Henderson’s French recruit Fire Warning at Newbury last month. With a tongue-tie fitted for the first time, Bespoke Tailor can outrun his current odds of 20/1.
Recommendation: Bespoke Tailor (Each-Way) - 20/1 with bet365 (5 places)
3:15pm Newbury - Our Power
A wide open veterans’ chase in which it is impossible to rule out any of the 10 runners. In the hope of a return to form, the vote goes to the Sam Thomas-trained OUR POWER, who has dropped to a mark 6lb lower than when finishing a creditable third of 23 behind Captain Cody in last year’s Coral Scottish Grand National.
The 11-year-old probably needed the run when fourth at Wincanton last month in the hands of amateur Mr Harvey Barfoot-Saunt. With regular pilot Dylan Johnston back on board today and with a first-time visor, Our Power is certainly handicapped to win this 3m 2f contest if anywhere near his best.
Recommendation: Our Power - 7/1 with bet365
3:30pm Kelso - Florida Dreams
Fifth of 18 in the Morebattle behind Cracking Rhapsody 12 months ago off today’s mark of 125, Nicky Richards’ FLORIDA DREAMS has been beaten on all 7 subsequent starts, two of which were narrow defeats at Hexham (only run over fences) and Carlisle.
Unlucky to come up against a couple of unexposed horses in Kabral Du Mathan and Indeevar Bleu towards the back end of last year, Brian Hughes’ mount probably failed to stay when 6th on his first attempt at 3m earlier in the month at Musselburgh. Off a mark of 123 and with conditions to suit, Florida Dreams has an excellent chance of recording his first win for 17 months.
Recommendation: Florida Dreams - 10/3 with William Hill
3:45pm Newbury - Heltenham (Each-Way)
Paul Nicholls’ top weight Twinjets and the Sam Thomas-trained Vincenzo head the betting for this £80k Greatwood Gold Cup and it is easy to make a strong case out for both horses. I would rather take a chance on Dan Skelton’s HELTENHAM (Each-Way) however, the mount of Charlie Todd victorious on three occasions over today’s course and distance, including in this race two years ago off a mark only 4lb lower.
Outclassed behind the likes of Jonbon and Pic D’orhy in the Grade 1 Ascot Chase two weeks ago, Heltenham is closely matched with Twinjets based on their course form of three months ago, and at odds of around 10/1, the former gets the each-way vote from a value perspective.
Recommendation: Heltenham (Each-Way) - 11/1 with bet365 (4 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.
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