Alan Kelly’s Tips

Alan heads to Sedgefield on Thursday for his best bet

Updated: November 12, 2025 at 4:09 pm GMT+0

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Alan Kelly's Tips - Thursday, 13 November

Following the abandonment of Taunton, Thursday's horse racing action comes from the jumps meetings at Market Rasen and Sedgefield, the ground at both venues on the soft side of good.


1:48pm Market Rasen - Mr Mahler (Each-Way)

Olly Murphy’s Pescatorius recorded his second victory over fences when winning a four-runner affair at Sedgefield last month, Sean Bowen’s mount previously successful at Catterick last December when in the care of Harriet Dicken. Back in fourth place on that occasion was chasing debutante MR MAHLER (Each-Way), beaten just over 10 lengths after failing to jump with any fluency at the North Yorkshire track.

Now due to meet Pescatorius on 17lb better terms, and with three more runs under his belt over fences, the son of Mahler is fancied to reverse that form, especially with Jack Power’s 5lb claim. Fourth in Class 5 handicaps at Southwell and Bangor last month, Mr Mahler has improved in the jumping department since that first run over fences and now down to a mark of 81, the seven-year-old is fancied to go close. While no prices are available as I write, bet365 and Betfred are advertising 3 places on the 7-runner contest.

Recommendation: Mr Mahler (Each-Way) - 9/2 with bet365 (3 places)


3:09pm Sedgefield - Upfordebate (Nap)

After winning races at Hexham and Perth on his second and third starts over fences towards the end of August and September, Patrick Neville’s UPFORDEBATE (Nap) failed to land the hat-trick when pulled-up at Hexham last month, a race in which only 3 of the 9 contenders completed the course.

Despite the official going description of good to soft, many of the runners failed to handle the conditions at the Northumberland track, in which case I am prepared to give Upfordebate another chance to continue his progression over fences in a race where decent recent form is thin on the ground.

Emotional Roller would have a chance based on his victory at Catterick back in January, but the seven-year-old has a habit of running in snatches and may come on for today’s run, the gelding’s first in almost 8 months. A bigger danger to Upfordebate is probably the lightly-weighted Halfway House Lad and 3lb claimer Charlie Price.

Recommendation: Upfordebate (Nap) - 11/4 with bet365


3:40pm Sedgefield - Lillistar

After being pulled-up on her previous three starts over hurdles, the Philip Kirby-trained Devon Skies made a mockery of the form book when running out a 13 length winner over a furlong shorter on this course last week, the improvement put down to the mare being ridden more prominently at the County Durham track.

The mount of 3lb claimer Joe Williamson is due to go up 10lb in the future, so is 3lb well-in a week later carrying a 7lb penalty. While I expect similar tactics to be deployed once again, whether the daughter of Dartmouth is capable of repeating that career-best effort is open to question.

I would rather side with the more consistent LILLISTAR from the Micky Hammond stable, the mount of Brian Hughes, who rides this course better than anyone. While the five-year-old has yet to open her account in 8 attempts over hurdles, the mare won a handicap on Wolverhampton’s all-weather surface last month before reverting back to the smaller obstacles at Wetherby two weeks ago.

In finishing third behind Mark Walford’s unexposed Princesse Milania, Lillistar produced a performance good enough to win a race of this nature off the same mark of 83. Runner-up to a 102-rated horse of Jamie Snowden’s over today’s course and distance back in May, Lillistar can finally get her head in front over hurdles at the 9th attempt. Balally Park and No More Bolero are the other two to consider.

Recommendation: Lillistar - 5/1 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 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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Alan Kelly

Alan Kelly

A successful punter, with a keen eye for value, Alan has had many betting highlights down the years including a scoop 6 win and has shown a consistent profit in the battle with bookmakers since joining freebets.com.

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