We’ve got daily tips from our resident horse racing expert, Charlie McCann.
Latest Profit & Loss Figures
It was an outstanding Grand National meeting, including 20/1, 11/1, 9/1 and 7/1 winners. I do hope at least some heeded my advice and backed I Am Maximus in-running as they went out on the second circuit.
In my preview of the race, I suggested doing so if he got that far, as he was “the one horse who could turn this into a procession.” As that was not a recommendation but a suggestion, it is not included in the weekly figures below. For information, he was 5/1 with a circuit to go.
All figures to a £1 level stake.
- Week Ending Sunday 14th April 2024: +£60.04
- Month April ‘24 to date: +£59.34
- Year 2024 to date: +£203.95
- Year Ending 31/12/23: +£479.27
- Period 1/8/22 to 31/12/22: +£243.31
- Cumulative figure since we began on 1/8/22: +£926.53
Charlie McCann’s Horse Racing Tips for Saturday, April 20th
They had 5mm of rain at Ayr on Thursday, and the ground was described soft ahead of Friday’s card. There is no further rain due ahead of their Scottish National meeting, and the winning time of the first race won by Primoz suggested it was likely to be no worse than good to soft for today’s card.
Their opening 2m Handicap Chase is a belter with Sans Bruit and Traprain Law – who both did us a favour last time – locking horns from 10lb higher marks than last time. Preference would be for Sans Bruit, and it is great to see connections remain loyal to Bryony Frost who again showcased her talents at Cheltenham midweek with two excellent frontrunning rides aboard Zain Nights and Pretending.
1:50pm Ayr - Maclaine (Each-Way)
A fantastic 3m handicap Chase.
Hitching Jacking is one of my Horses To Follow, and I said when I posted last month that I had a race in mind for the seven-year-old at the Scottish National meeting. As it turns out, it was Friday’s two-and-a-half-mile handicap chase I had in mind, but Dan Skelton had Jet Plane and Heltenham for that contest, and he keeps this inmate to three miles.
Hitching Jacking will appreciate the return to a left-handed track, but both career wins have come over 2m 4f, and this trip does tax his stamina. I am convinced he is well handicapped at present; the drying ground is a positive, but he is reluctantly overlooked at the trip on what might be tacky or holding ground.
Inch House was a big disappointment last time, and a few of the Jonjo O’Neill horses have underperformed recently. He ran well on heavy ground at Cheltenham at New Year but is a better horse on decent ground.
MACLAINE (Each-Way) is another who would like the ground to dry out, but I was impressed with his recent Newbury success when stepped up to a trip just shy of three miles for the first time. He has been raised 8lbs in the weights and this represents a step up in class, but Richard Bandey has his string in particularly good form, and he carries just 10st 5lbs.
The market is headed by Montgomery, who is chasing a four-timer. However, the Venetia Williams yard is badly out of sorts, and he would not want the ground to dry out. I expect him to drift, and if you gave me ten picks in the race, he would not be one of them.
2:25pm Ayr - Favour And Fortune (Each-Way) (Nap)
L’Eau du Sud is only 3lbs higher than when runner-up to Absurde in the County Hurdle and that comes on the back of his second in the Betfair Hurdle on his penultimate start. He is a worthy market leader and promises to be very well served if the ground dries out. Dan Skelton last won the race in 2016 with the novice Ch’tibello and their grey is very much the one to beat.
It was not a vintage Supreme Novice Hurdle and FAVOUR AND FORTUNE (Each-Way) was first home of the Brits in sixth beaten less than ten lengths having jumped poorly on ground that was heavy for the opening race of the meeting.
His jumping was also an issue when runner-up in a Listed contest at Exeter on his penultimate start, and he gives the impression this better ground will help his jumping. He does possess an engine and he looks fairly treated with the drying ground considered a major plus given he is unbeaten in two starts on a sound surface.
Afadil has been busy, but he, too, will enjoy the ground and has already plundered a valuable prize in Scotland this year, winning the Scottish County Hurdle at Musselburgh in February. Of the two Paul Nicholls’ trained runners, I favour Afadil over last year’s winner Rubaud, who is 13lbs higher than when scoring – as a novice – twelve months ago.
3:35pm Ayr - Whacker Clan (Each-Way)
Willie Mullins saddles six in the Scottish National in his quest for a first British Trainers’ title. Paul Townend rides Spanish Harlem, but he is unproven at the distance and readily overlooked.
Having been with Git Maker for the Kim Muir last month, I also backed him earlier in the week when it became apparent that there would be at least some give in the ground. The form of his second to Inothewayurthinkin at Cheltenham was given a huge boost when the winner dotted up in the Aintree Grade 1 3m Novice Chase, and the selection can race from the same mark.
He won on good to soft ground at Lingfield earlier in the season but is at his most effective when there is plenty of cut. The drying ground is a concern, and he is reluctantly overlooked.
WHACKER CLAN, meanwhile, finished one place, but another eighteen lengths, behind Git Maker at Cheltenham. However, the ground had gone against him, and I believe he could be a different proposition on this better ground.
I remember Henry De Bromhead’s gelding winning at Cheltenham on good to soft earlier in the season and thinking there could be a big race in him later in the season.
Inis Oirr needs to go right-handed, but Anglers Crag is a must for any shortlist, although he won the Eider Chase at Newcastle despite his jumping. An 8lbs rise is fair for that big race success and he has been a revelation since joining Brian Ellison in November.
My Silver Lining has had a hard season, but she has been a credit to Emma Lavelle and did us a big favour when landing the Classic Chase at Warwick in January. She remains open to further improvement and carries just 10st 3lbs. I will kick myself if she lands a Scottish National, but I wonder if a hard season will catch up with her.
1:40pm Bangor-on-Dee - Caeruleum
Bampton Star has won his last couple for Jeremy Scott, who has had an outstanding season, although he has been raised a stone for those Exeter successes.
Robert Walford is in terrific form of late with his last three runners having form figures of 1-1-3. CAERULEUM has been well backed in his last four starts over fences but has disappointed recently, although his second to Percy Veering off a 3lbs higher mark at Exeter back in December was a decent run.
This will be the first time the six-year-old has been asked to race left-handed but that should not be an issue, and stable form sways me to believe he is worth another chance.
There are no prices available at the time of writing but the Racing Post suggests he will be about a 6/1 chance. That would be no more than fair as I was hoping for something around 8/1 although I appreciate that he has been returned 9/4, 5/2, 11/4 and 3/1 in his last four starts.
*Betting odds correct at the time of publication. All odds are subject to changes.
Charlie McCann’s Horses to Follow
Last updated, Wednesday, March 20
Hitching Jacking, 7-year-old trained by Dan Skelton
Dan Skelton had a wonderful Cheltenham week on and, perhaps even more significantly, off the track with four Festival winners and a rather lenient/unbelievable £6,000 fine published on the Monday of Cheltenham week for the George Gently case. I won’t bore you with the details of the case but a £6000 slap on the wrists conveniently brushed under the carpet on the eve of Cheltenham was some result!
There again, what do I know? I thought OJ Simpson was guilty.
Hitching Jacking has yet to prove his stamina for three miles, and his two hurdle successes came over the intermediate two-and-a-half-mile trip. He has pulled up few trees over fences to date, but I thought he shaped with considerable promise over fences when having his first start in two months, finishing third at Kempton last weekend.
He jumped out to his left at Kempton behind Slipway and Egbert and will appreciate the return to a left-hand track next time. I think there will be more to come from the gelding this spring, and there is a race at Ayr at the Scottish National meeting, which connections may consider targeting.
Jagwar, 5-year-old trained by Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero
Jagwar ran with the choke out at Uttoxeter in their competitive 2m 4f handicap hurdle last weekend and a blunder two out put paid to his chance. He was beaten 10L at the line, but he travelled like a well-handicapped horse for much of the race and the hope is that he will eventually cut out the jumping issues that have blunted his progression to this point. He was dropped 1lb to a mark of 118 by the handicapper after Uttoxeter.
Better ground should suit this spring and I wonder if he might be worth a try back at the minimum trip. The conditional jockeys’ event at Aintree might enter calculations at next month’s National meeting.
Merry Monty, 7-year-old trained by Chris Down (currently rated 80)
Merry Monty looked the type to improve for the switch to fences, and he shaped with considerable promise on his chase debut at Exeter over 2m 3f on New Year’s Day, giving every indication that he would improve again when stepped up in trip.
The gelding showed his first form when runner up - also at Exeter - on his penultimate start over timber when he jumped his hurdles as if he had been previously schooled over fences. He is likely to be nudged up the weights from his mark of eighty, but he would have won at Exeter granted another twenty yards, and I will be disappointed if he isn’t bordering on three figures by the end of the season.
Fenland Tiger, 8-year-old trained by Sam England (currently rated 107)
Fenland Tiger has won four of his nine starts over jumps, but we are just scratching the surface regarding his ability, and I will continue to follow him in the near future.
The eight-year-old won on chase debut at Carlisle and travelled like much the best horse when third back at the Cumbrian track over 3m 2f last month when he pulled hard and finished tamely to be beaten over five lengths. He will need to settle better going forward, but I am convinced he has the potential to win a good handicap chase.
I thought he looked like an Eider type on chase debut, although I appreciate he will have to settle better if he is to stay extreme distances. I would expect him to be out again at the end of the month.
Burdett Road, 3-year-old trained by James Owen
I am not a big follower of juvenile hurdles until the end of January, but I was blown away by the performance of Burdett Road at Cheltenham at the weekend and feel the 7/1 for the Triumph Hurdle at the Festival in March is fair. I am convinced the double-figure prices available in the immediate aftermath were more than fair.
I would not be surprised if we did not see a great deal of the gelding over deep winter ground, and something like the Adonis at Kempton might be an option ahead of the Cheltenham/Aintree Festivals in the spring. I would be surprised if he went to Chepstow over Christmas.
He will need to settle better than he did at Cheltenham last time, but he was in a completely different class to the rest of his field and will be a better horse on good ground. I am a huge fan of the trainer and think he would be about 5/1 if he were with a higher-profile yard.
A Royal Ascot winner back in June for Michael Bell, he is rated 101 on the level, and while the big yards have yet to flex their juvenile muscles, I would be very surprised if they had anything to go to war with a three-figure flat rating. Looking at the lists, Burdett Roads’s market rivals are French imports who have joined big yards following soft ground wins.
Pimlico Point, 6-year-old trained by Kerry Lee
The novices’ limited handicap chase (20/11/23) at Exeter, won by Wiseguy, was a most informative contest, and I will be following three in the short term from the race.
Great Name That travelled extremely well but failed to get home on his first start since the spring. He will be dropped a couple of pounds and will be a different proposition next time.
Paul Nicholls reported prerace that his Makein’yourmindup had missed some work ahead of his chase debut, and he ran as well as the trainer predicted. He is high enough in the weights off a mark of 133, but his jumping was exemplary, and he will strip fitter next time.
Pimlico Point had been off the track for over 10 months, and Kerry Lee’s six-year-old is entitled to come on for his own chase debut. He was only beaten a length at Exeter and will be nudged up a couple of pounds for the run.
He looked all stamina at Exeter and struck me as the type who would make up into a Welsh National/Eider type in the long term. In the short term, I expect the six-year-old excellent handler to find a suitable 0-120 or 0-125 handicap chase.
Are U Wise To That, 6-year-old trained by Jonjo O’Neill
It is not often you recommend following a horse beaten over 10L last time out, but I think this six-year-old ran a terrific race, under the circumstances, at Ascot in a valuable novices’ handicap chase at the beginning of November.
It would be fair to say that he is unlikely to be seen racing right-handed again this season, given he jumped left at each of his fences and violently so at times. I kept waiting for him to fall out the back of the television, but he showed his grit and ability to keep plugging away.
Those battling qualities can be rewarded back on a left-handed track at the likes of Ayr, Warwick, or Wetherby. He had been raised 7lbs for winning at Warwick on his chase debut over 2m 4f, and he gives the impression he will get three miles in time.
He is likely to be dropped one or two pounds, I hope, for Ascot, but I shall be supporting him in his next couple of starts – granted him returning to a left-handed track.
Frederick Daly
16-year-old amateur jockey, soon to turn professional, with Sir Mark Prescott
It is rare to be as impressed with a jockey, especially one who arguably won by too far, having his first ride under rules, but I was blown away by the quiet style of amateur Daly, who rode Golden Shot to win the amateur riders’ event at Ffos Las on Monday for Sir Mark Prescott. As Ian Bishop might have said: “Frederick Daly - remember the name”.
The 16-year-old was as polished in his postrace interview with Sky Sports Racing as he was in the saddle, and he suggested that he would spend little time as an amateur and would soon be turning professional.
His 7lbs claim is likely to prove very popular when that happens, although you get the impression his father, who I remember as a former assistant trainer in Newmarket, and Sir Mark Prescott will manage his progression diligently as he works through his claim.
It might be daft to draw such conclusions after just the one ride, and he never had to get serious on the 29L winner, but there was just something about his style that suggested he was no ordinary amateur jockey. I, for one, will be monitoring his progress and will take note to see if other trainers book the jockey for similar contests in the short term.
Royal Rhyme, 3-year-old trained by Karl Burke
Goodwood was largely a disappointment, with the rain putting a dampener on proceedings on and off the track. The week was summed up when the last three races were abandoned on the Saturday as the rain returned in spades.
On the track, the highlights were the continued brilliance of Paddington in the Sussex Stakes on Wednesday, but he must play second fiddle to Royal Rhyme, who showed himself to be a Group horse when running away with what is invariably a competitive 3-year-old handicap.
The handicapper has seen fit to raise him 13lbs to a mark of 108 for his six-and-a-half length romp, while his winning time was three seconds quicker than that clocked by Al Husn in the Group 1 Nassau Stakes later in the card. His record on soft ground reads played three won three, with those successes coming by an aggregate of 12 lengths.
He remains one to keep on side granted soft ground this autumn. His stablemate Triple Time, likely to reappear at Deauville on Sunday, did us a huge favour when landing the Queen Anne at Royal Ascot at 33/1. Royal Rhyme is currently the same price for the Champion Stakes with Ladbrokes and Coral at Newmarket in October. Granted soft ground, he certainly won’t be that price if he faces the starter.
Devil’s Point, 2-year-old trained by David Menuisier
Devil’s Point was backed into favourite for the valuable Goodwood maiden that was abandoned last weekend but duly bolted up at Ffos Las on Monday.
You could see the relief etched across the face of his trainer, who has endured a difficult season to date, and it is fair to say he would have been crestfallen had this son of New Bay, who cost 450,000 gns as a yearling, not landed the odds in south Wales.
The form is unlikely to be anything special, winning time certainly wasn’t, but I was impressed with the manner of victory, and his Group 2 Champagne Stakes entry at Doncaster next month does not look fanciful. I don’t believe he will need soft ground to progress, but we know he handles such conditions.
Land Legend, 3-year-old trained by James Ferguson
Many bookmakers were offering six places on the King George V handicap for the classic generation, and somehow Land Legend managed to finish seventh, having missed the break completely – gave the field five lengths and more – before meeting interference from his stablemate Wonder Legend which crucially halted his momentum two furlongs out.
The gelding had his head over the stalls just before the gates opened, and consequently, it was no surprise to see him miss the kick. In the circumstances, he ran an extraordinary race, and he would surely have gone very close had he broken on terms. He looks the type to stay further than a mile-and-a-half in time, and the handicapper can certainly not take a dim view of the run, given he was beaten over six lengths.
The gelding holds an entry in the Irish St Leger later in the season, and while that G1 entry appears fanciful, I would expect there to be plenty more races to be won with this son of Galileo on good or faster ground – note he is unproven on soft.
Wonder Legend, 3-year-old trained by James Ferguson
For much of the King George V Handicap, the eye was drawn to Wonder Legend, who travelled like a dream near the front of a suicidal early gallop. Indeed, he took up the running at the top of the home run before his effort petered out tamely, and he hung to the far rail, where he interfered with his stablemate.
In the post-race analysis, it was suggested that the horse did not let himself down on the fast ground, but I just thought he raced too prominently in a race run in ridiculous early fractions – sub-11-second furlongs - and didn’t stay the twelve-furlong trip. That was his first start at a mile-and-a-half, and he is the half-brother to a 10f winner in France. We know he enjoys soft ground, winning at Doncaster on his penultimate start.
The son of Sea The Stars is currently rated 94 and is unlikely to be moved from that mark when the ratings are published on Tuesday morning. I am convinced that he is a 100+ horse in the making but would prefer connections to drop him back in distance, at least in the short term.
If connections persevere with a mile-and-a-half, I expect him to be ridden with more restraint. There is a big race to be won with him somewhere along the line.
Modaara, 4-year-old trained by Roger Varian
Modaara is out of Roger Varian’s dual Group 1 winner Nahrain and is a sister of the wonderful Benbatl. She has won her last couple of starts on the all-weather, including a 13L romp at Kempton last week under the steadier of 10st 9lbs, and I am looking forward to her switch to turf and step up in grade.
By Dubawi, the filly holds an entry in the Hardwicke Stakes over a mile-and-a-half at the Royal meeting, but I hope to see her run over 10f back on turf first despite her recent success coming over 12f at Kempton.
Her mother’s optimum conditions were ten furlongs on fast ground while her illustrious brother ran the mighty Aussie mare Winx to 2L in the 10f Cox Plate of 2018, although he did most of his racing at eight and nine furlongs.
There was a glint in the eye of jockey Jack Mitchell when he was interviewed on Racing TV after her latest success, and he is unbeaten on the mare. Her sole turf run was nothing special – 2L fourth of ten at Yarmouth back in September – but I would be surprised if she didn’t leave that form well behind in time. An exciting prospect.
Going forward, as well as our daily racing previews, I will recommend a couple of horses that have caught my eye in the last seven days. The hope is that they may be worth putting into your own trackers.
Diamond Ri, 4-year-old trained by Joe Tizzard
Diamond Ri tanked through a Warwick Bumper on his racecourse debut to score by a long-looking thirteen lengths. The winning time was five-and-a-half seconds than the first division half an hour later.
The Tizzard yard does not have too many Bumper winners, but the yard can dare to dream over the summer that they have something to go to war with as a novice hurdler next term. His win came on soft ground, and his action and breeding suggest plenty of cut will suit going forward. Not one for the short term, but one for next season.
Harper’s Brook, 7-year-old trained by Ben Pauling
Of more short-term interest is Harper’s Brook, who is entered at the five-day stage in the 2m 4f handicap chase at Sandown on Saturday, and the hope is that there is enough juice in the ground to allow him to take his chance.
Harper’s Brook set a scorching gallop on his first start at three miles in the Ultima at Cheltenham last month when he wore cheekpieces for the first time. I would be surprised if Ben Pauling maintained the headgear at the weekend, and the return to a right-hand track will suit.
Pauling is due to run two in the race, and his Quinta Do Mar is a big threat, having won at Fontwell last time, beating a subsequent winner in Grandads Horse. Drying ground would suit, although it should be noted that Harper’s Brook has won on good ground over timber. He is 8/1 with the sponsors Bet365 for Saturday’s cracking-looking handicap.
Your Own Story, 7-year-old trained by Lucinda Russell
I backed Your Own Story at Sandown last time, and he ran a terrific race, jumping soundly and travelling well, but he was no match for the Irish raider Stumptown who looked a different class under Gavin Sheehan.
In the post-race interview, it was reported that the target for the winner is the 3m 2f Kim Muir at Cheltenham, and they needed to win to get into that amateur rider’s handicap. I am writing this before Stumptown’s revised British mark has been allocated, but he is into a best price of 5/1 with bet365 for that Festival handicap, and the cat is very much out of the bag.
Do note that he did show more than a tendency to jump right at Esher, which is a slight concern. It would not surprise me if he were an Irish National or Bet365 Gold Cup next season.
Your Own Story could be a Scottish National horse in time, as he is a sound jumper and needs a stiff stamina test. He remains a maiden over fences but is a dual winner between the flags and is one to have on your side between now and the end of the season, although he may not want extremes of going. I would be disappointed if he is still rated 117 in 12 months’ time.
Out Of Office, 5-year-old trained by Evan Williams
Out Of Office cost £160,000 after landing a point in his native Ireland in February and built on a promising British debut – 10L fourth to subsequent Tolworth winner Tahmuras – when bolting up on a return visit to south Wales on Welsh Grand National Day.
His owner described him as “an out-and-out two-miler” after his fluent win, which I’m not convinced is the case, and he has been given an opening handicap mark of 128. He will always appreciate a bit of cut in the ground, and I wonder if something like the Imperial Cup might come under consideration in March.
Note Williams saddled Howdyalikemenow – rated 126 – to finish sixth in the valuable Sandown handicap last season, and it will be interesting to see if Out Of Office gets an entry at the Esher track or whether they remain in novice company.
The form of his Chepstow win was boosted when the runner-up Equinus did us a favour at Ffos las on Monday, benefiting from a step up in distance. He would have come home alone had he jumped with more fluency – let’s hope the handicapper does not overreact and raise Out Of Office as a result!
City Chief, 6-year-old trained by Nicky Henderson
We will all have our personal highlight from the Dublin Racing Festival last weekend, and mine was The Mighty Potter in the G1 Novice Chase over 2m 5f. I think he will take all the beating in the Turners Novices’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival next month, although he is now a best price of 6/4, which makes little appeal now.
The Mighty Potter readily disposed of Gaillard Du Mesnil at Leopardstown, and the latter remains the 7/4 market leader for the NH Chase next month, having shown his stamina when runner-up at Fairyhouse in the Irish National last spring.
He is a worthy market leader, but City Chief is about 8/1 for the race with the firms offering NRNB for the Festival. He is, however, 14s with Unibet, given the reports after his Grade 2 Novice Chase win at Wetherby at the weekend suggested he may be more of a Scottish National horse and could bypass Cheltenham for Ayr.
Wherever he runs next, I think he is worth following, with stamina his forte. He could be an Aintree horse one day.
About Charlie McCann
Seven years as talkSPORT racing correspondent/tipster who recently spent over a decade as Director Of PR/Communications for a couple of leading igaming operators.
Failed cricketer - I regularly bore people, myself included, with the story about how I caught Imran Khan when 12th Man for Lancashire v Sussex as a youth - former National League Basketball player - once scored 72 points in a game - and lifelong and long-suffering Everton supporter.
Many of my old friends - and I mean old - would tell you I was a better footballer than a cricketer - but cricket was my first love. Horse racing has long been my passion - ironic as I’ll never pass the vet again as my sports injuries have come back to bite - with my specialism handicap chases over jumps and 1m+ handicaps on the level.
I have met many of the great and good in the game and consider myself to have been very fortunate. Please always bet within your means and never chase your losses.
Be Lucky.
You can follow Charlie McCann on Twitter for more racing insight.
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