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It was another bitterly disappointing and frustrating week despite a 5/1 winner midweek. The weekend was a nightmare, with my favourite horse in training, Tower Of London, winning at the Curragh despite the track not getting the volume of rain it was due; similar sentiments applied at Cartmel.
Having recommended Mistral Sky on both previous starts this season, I watched her win at Newmarket through gritted teeth on Saturday evening. On another day, all three of Sunday’s tips would have won but the way our luck is now, all three somehow found a way to get beat.
We ended the week -£14.40 to a £1 level stake.
- Week Ending Sunday 7th July: -£14.40
- July 2024 to date: -£26.67
- Year 2024 to date: +£204.81
- Year Ending 31/12/23: +£469.27
- Period 1/8/22 to 31/12/22: +£243.31
- Cumulative profit since we began on 1/8/22: +£917.39
Charlie McCann’s Horse Racing Tips for Saturday, July 27th
2:25pm Ascot - Soprano
Godolphin’s unbeaten filly Devoted Queen heads the market for the Group 3 Valiant Stakes, but she is short enough in the betting given she has the worst of the draw out on the wing in stall eight – round mile – and she has been off the track since winning the listed Michael Seely Stakes at York in the spring.
She was due to contest the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot last month but swerved the race to wait for this lesser contest. The hood she wore at York last time helped her settle and the aid is reapplied this afternoon.
The vote, however, goes to SOPRANO who was caught out of her ground on ground softer than ideal in the listed Coral Distaff last time. She had previously landed the Sandringham over the straight mile here at Royal Ascot on fast ground and she had the worst of the draw at Sandown last time.
She is drawn in stall five – of eight – this afternoon and I do not think Billy Loughnane will have the filly as far back as at the Esher track. I hope Devoted Queen is a bit keen posted wide with little guaranteed pace in the race – Julia Augusta may go forward – and I wonder if the Godolphin filly may make her own running.
Recommendation: Soprano - 7/2 with Paddy Power
3:00pm Ascot - Aalto (Each-Way)
Orazio has hinted that he is ready for a step up in distance having been campaigned exclusively over six furlongs in his twelve-race career to date. His staying on third in the Wokingham from a 3lbs lower mark is nailing good handicap form but he may just need softer ground to be seen at his best.
The Bunbury Cup winner AALTO (Each-Way) must carry a 3lbs penalty for that fluent Newmarket success, but he would be carrying an additional 4lbs if this were not an “early closing” race. He travelled like much the best horse in the race in the Bunbury Cup, although I’m surprised Rossa Ryan, who was in the plate on the July course, does not take the mount with Luke Morris taking over on the each-way selection. Note Ryan rides Billyjoh for Mick Appleby.
Pat Dobbs returns to the plate on Carrytheone, but I am surprised he is market-leader given the seven-year-old has not had the luck in running his hold-up style needs in recent starts, although he could not be described as an unlucky loser last time.
He had previously finished a never nearer three-length third in the Buckingham Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot. I wonder if a mile is now his trip, and do note he holds an entry in the Golden Mile at Goodwood next week. If they go a decent pace, he can run a big race, but I thought Aalto was an impressive winner last time and can defy the small rise.
Recommendation: Aalto (Each-Way) - 8/1 with William Hill (5 places)
3:40pm Ascot - Rebel’s Romance (Each-Way) (Nap)
Auguste Rodin disappointed in the corresponding race twelve months ago but bounced back from a dismal run in Meydan back in the spring to land the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes over ten furlongs here last month.
Last year’s Derby winner finished twenty-two lengths behind REBEL’S ROMANCE (Each-Way) (Nap) in Meydan and Godolphin’s globetrotting six-year-old gets the vote. The gelding has won thirteen of his nineteen career starts, including six at Group 1 level, although he has not run on turf in Britain since Glorious Goodwood 2022.
I expect him to be ridden forward not too far away from the likely pace-making Hans Andersen and hope to see Will Buick go for home at the top of the straight although he will likely give Ryan Moore a target to aim at. Despite the paucity of three-year-olds in the field, this is a good, if not vintage, renewal of the King George.
The long-term weather forecast must suggest a dry Glorious Goodwood as Bluestocking is a better filly with a bit of cut in the ground. However, her York win in the Group 2 Middleton (10f) back in the spring highlights her ability to cope with a sound surface.
Recommendation: Rebel’s Romance (Each-Way) (Nap) - 4/1 with William Hill (3 places)
4:35pm York - Boy Douglas (Each-Way)
The Group 2 York Stakes is an absolute cracker with last year’s winner Alfaila, Passenger and King’s Gambit in opposition. This represents a step up in grade for the latter who should have won the Hampton Court a minute last time, but no three-year-old has won the race in the last decade and Passenger looked a Group 1 horse when scoring at Chester on his reappearance. A race best watched.
BOY DOUGLAS (Each-Way) has run well in all three starts so far this term and looks sure to run a big race in the mile handicap for Michael Dods. The four-year-old has form figures of 2-1-2 this term including finishing second over nine furlongs here last time from a 1lb lower mark when he gave every indication that this return to a mile would suit.
His 28/1 second to stablemate Hale End on his seasonal reappearance was given a boost when the winner scored at Ayr on Monday and the selection has a good draw in stall seven.
Barley has improved of late dropped to a mile on fast ground but is held by the selection on course form – albeit over the additional furlong on slower ground. Barley is also well-housed in stall six.
There are no prices at the time of writing, but the Racing Post tissue suggests Boy Douglas will be about a 5/1 shot. I would be hoping for slightly bigger when the prices come out on Friday afternoon/evening.
Recommendation: Boy Douglas (Each-Way) - 9/2 with bet365 (4 places)
*Betting odds correct at the time of publication. All odds are subject to changes.
Charlie McCann’s Horses to Follow
Last updated, Friday, May 10
Easy Fella, 7-year-old trained by Henry De Bromhead
Rated 135 over hurdles, Easy Fella made an impressive chase debut at Tipperary at the beginning of May. He looks the type to run up a sequence during the summer/early autumn, given that he will always be at his best on good or yielding (good to soft) ground.
It may not have been the greatest Beginners Chase he won at Tipperary, but his jumping was exemplary and he could be called the winner from a long way out.
He has won two of his eleven starts over timber, and it is possible that his excellent handler will put him away for Cheltenham in October. Still, I wonder if there will be something for him at Galway or back at Tipperary over the summer.
He is a very exciting novice chaser and if we ever get a dry spring he could be one for the end-of-season Festivals next year.
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 £6,000 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 three-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.
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.
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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