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 small loss of -£3.17 for the week ending Sunday, 8 February, despite three winning naps out of five, taking our recent naps total to 17 from 24.
- P/L for the week ending Sunday, 8 Feburary: -£3.17
- P/L for the year 2026 to date: +£20.21
- P/L for the year 2025: +£22.38
- P/L for the year 2024: +£200.42
- P/L since 1st September 2022: +£520.87
Alan Kelly's Tips - Saturday 14 February
Weather permitting, ITV will be showing nine races on Saturday afternoon, five from Ascot, three from Haydock Park and one from Wincanton. The coverage concludes with Haydock’s Grand National Trial at 3.15pm followed by the day’s feature race, the Grade 1 Betfair Ascot Chase at 3.35pm.
1:15pm Ascot - Catchintsavo
Ben Pauling’s Ludlow maiden hurdle winner Mondoui’boy heads the betting for this extended 2m 3f novices’ hurdle. Sixth of 22 in a Bumper at last year’s Punchestown Festival, Ben Jones’ mount finished eight and a half lengths behind fellow rival Catchintsavo from the Anthony Honeyball stable.
On what the two horses have achieved over hurdles to date, the value has to lie with Rex Dingle’s mount, who opened his account at Ludlow last month from a well-regarded prospect from the O’Neill stable with the third horse home some 32 lengths away.
Recommendation: Catchintsavo at 6/1 (William Hill)
1:35pm Wincanton - Alexei
Hardly the Champion Hurdle Trial it is meant to be, and in what looks to be a straight match between Joe Tizzard’s Alexei and Rubaud from the Ditcheat stable of Paul Nicholas, slight preference is for the former.
Rubaud has won on three of his four visits to Wincanton, that one defeat coming in this race two years ago on heavy going. The mount of Sam Twiston-Davies is much better on less testing ground, whereas Alexei was most impressive in winning Cheltenham’s Greatwood Hurdle on soft ground back in November.
Recommendation: Alexei at 8/11 (Coral)
1:50pm Ascot - The Jukebox Kid
A disappointing turnout of only 4 runners for this Grade 2 Reynoldstown Novices’ Chase, headed by the Hobbs/White-trained Thomas Mor, last seen finishing second to Willie Mullins’ Kitzbuhel in Kempton’s Kauto Star on Boxing Day. Despite finishing a creditable fifth in last season Albert Bartlett on soft ground at the festival, the nine-year-old’s five wins to date have all come on ground no worse than good to soft.
Ben Pauling’s The Jukebox Kid, two from three over fences, won a soft-ground handicap over today’s course and distance last month; in receipt of 3lb from Harry Cobden’s mount, the lightly-raced seven-year-old gets the narrow vote.
Recommendation: The Jukebox Kid at 9/4 (bet365)
2:05pm Haydock - Henri The Second (EW)
On ground that is sure to be testing to say the least, I would be wary of taking a very short price about hot favourite Kabral Du Mathan, despite Dan Skelton’s charge looking to have a bright future ahead of him based on two impressive victories since leaving the Paul Nicholls stable.
The Ditcheat trainer is represented here by recent runaway Sandown handicap scorer Henri The Second, who is sure to relish today’s ground conditions, the mount of Freddie Gingell at his very best when the mud is flying. While the class of Kabral Du Mathan may well see him through, at odds of around 9/1, the each-way selection is capable of running the favourite close.
Recommendation: Henri The Second (EW) at 9/1 (William Hill)
2:25pm Ascot - Jurancon (EW 4 Places)
There are question marks regarding many of the runners for this competitive Class 2 handicap hurdle. Kateira, Captain Teague, Act Of Authority and Fiercely Proud all make some appeal based on their best form, although all four have been slightly disappointing of late.
Another horse who has yet to hit form this season is the David Pipe-trained Jurancon, successful in three of his five starts over hurdles last season but still to reproduce anything like his best in two runs during the current campaign.
Jack Tudor’s mount may have found the ground too lively when finishing down the field at Newbury on his most recent start just after Christmas. Back on a more suitable surface and off a mark only 4lb higher than when winning on his handicap debut at the Berkshire racecourse last March, the gelding gets the each-way vote in an open race.
Recommendation: Jurancon (EW 4 Places) at 10/1 (Paddy Power)
2:40pm Haydock - Dalston Lad
Whatever the fate of Kabral Du Mathan in the previous Grade 2 contest at the Merseyside racecourse, Dan Skelton can take this valuable grade 2 novices’ hurdle with his Dalston Lad.
While Harry Skelton’s mount has a few pounds to find with fellow rivals Reckless Spending and Ubatuba based on current ratings, the Ocovango gelding appreciated the step-up to today’s trip when winning a handicap on the course last month and can continue his progress into Graded company.
Recommendation: Dalston Lad at 4/1 (Coral)
3:00pm Ascot - Your Darling (EW 4 Places)
Running off the same mark of 133 as when falling with the race, apparently, at his mercy in Doncaster’s Great Yorkshire Chase last month, Dan Skelton’s Joyeux Machin is sure to prove popular in an effort to recoup those losses with a victory in this £100 Premier Handicap.
The JP McManus-owned Montregard is another who will have his supporters off a low weight, despite racing from 3lb out of the handicap, Tom Lacey’s charge a creditable second behind Ben Pauling's unexposed The Jukebox Man over today’s course and distance last month.
However, at a double-figure price and with 4 places on offer, the 10/1 currently available with bet365 about the Ben Pauling-trained Your Darling makes plenty of appeal (each-way). An impressive winner on his first two visits to Ascot in November 2022 and 2023, the mount of Ben Jones almost certainly needed the run when last of 4 here back in November on his first start for six months.
Beaten just a neck by Alan King’s The Doyen Chief at Kempton on his most recent start, Your Darling can continue his excellent form on the course with another big run.
Recommendation: Your Darling (EW 4 Places) at 10/1 (bet365)
3:15pm Haydock - Myretown (NAP)
Still holding an entry in next month’s Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup, connections of last year’s impressive Ultima winner Myretown may have to lower their sights somewhat if they are to record another festival victory with the nine-year-old son of Dylan Thomas.
A faller when favourite for Newbury’s Coral Gold Cup on his reappearance (leading when coming to grief at the 9th fence), Derek Fox’s mount lost his chance with a bad mistake 3 out when leading in the Peter Marsh on this course last month.
Still only beaten a little over three lengths behind winner Imperial Saint and fellow rival Richmond Lake, I expect the Russell/Scudamore-trained gelding to regain the winning thread off a mark of 142, granted an error-free round of jumping on this occasion. Joe Tizzard’s Rivers Corner finally came good with an easy victory on heavy ground at Wincanton last time and can make the frame again for the 8th time running.
Recommendation: Myretown (NAP) at 4/1 (William Hill)
3:35pm Ascot - Blow Your Wad (W/O Jonbon & Pic D'orhy)
In what looks to be a straight match between the top class pair of Jonbon and Pic D’orhy, the latter winner of this Grade 1 Ascot Chase for the last two years, from a betting perspective I am more interested in the race for third place, that position expected to go to Alan King’s veteran Edwardstone, Tom Cannon’s mount rated at least 10lb higher than the other three remaining contenders.
While the 12-year-old took advantage of Kalif Du Berlais’ fatal fall in Kempton’s Silviniaco Conti last month, Edwardstone is a shadow of former days and almost certainly better over a trip shorter than today’s 2m 5f. Blow Your Wad on the other hand, now with Gary & Josh Moore after leaving the Tom Lacey stable, has shown a liking for this track in the past and is fancied to be staying-on better than most at the business end of the day’s feature race.
Recommendation: Blow Your Wad (W/O Jonbon & Pic D'orhy) at 11/4 (William Hill)
* 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 Twitter for more racing insight.
Latest Betting Offers
Check the latest free bets and betting offers from the best betting sites in the UK at Freebets.com.
