Charlie McCann’s Horse Racing Tips Saturday, 11 July - Newmarket, Chester, Ascot & York
Charlie heads to Chester on Saturday for his best bet
It's a busy day of racing action in the UK and Ireland, and Charlie McCann is here with his exclusive free horse racing tips - only at FreeBets.
2:52pm Newmarket - Alfaraz (Each-Way)
Moonfall is only 7lbs higher than when landing the Britannia at Royal Ascot, but the first seven home were drawn 28-18-25-32-30-29-27, and I'm not sure how reliable the form is. The fourth and fifth ran respectably here in the Sir Henry Cecil Stakes on Friday, but I am going to look elsewhere.
ALFARAZ made all to win a decent Novice over C&D last time, when he was more amenable to restraint than had been the case on his two previous starts over ten furlongs this term. He looked beaten but battled tenaciously all the way to the line when beating two previous winners here last month, and I expect to see Oisin Murphy make plenty of use of his mount.
The stalls are far side so God knows where they will race or the effect of the draw, but I did think the 8/1 on Thursday morning was too big. He is a top price of 13/2 at the time of writing.
Recommendation: Alfaraz (Each-Way) - 13/2 with William Hill & bet365
3:18pm Chester - Crazee Icon (Nap)
The ground was soft when CRAZEE ICON got up close home to score over C&D from a 3lbs lower mark last time under Jason Watson, but she is a confident selection to follow up for Andrew Balding.
The second – Runswick – has since dotted up in a decent Carlisle Handicap and is now rated 8lbs higher than when going down a short head to the selection last month. You can put a line through the filly's penultimate start when she didn't take to the headgear – hood – which was soon discarded.
Well drawn in stall four – of nine – I will be disappointed if the filly does not run a big race. I expect her to play a part at Goodwood later in the month for a yard who target their home meeting.
Recommendation: Crazee Icon (Nap)
3:34pm Ascot - Fireblade
FIREBLADE is just 3lbs higher than when scoring on Shergar Cup Day last July from a 3lbs lower mark and can gain a second course win for Dylan Cunha, dropped back to 1m6f this afternoon.
He was returning from a two-month break when finishing fourth over 11f+ at Windsor last time and should be spot on for today, although it is possible that connections are eyeing a repeat success in the Shergar Cup here later in the month.
Anniversary has been a big disappointment so far this term, but his best run in five starts was his sole run over today's trip – other four runs over further. He was staying on at Salisbury when runner up on his penultimate start, but he doesn't look one to trust after what I thought was a very promising reappearance at Kempton.
The last four winners of the corresponding race have been four-year-olds – Anniversary the only four-year-old in the field – but I favour Fireblade, with Callum Rodriguez taking over in the saddle for the first time.
Recommendation: Fireblade - 5/1 with Bet365
3:45pm York - Danger Bay (Each-Way)
The John Smith's Cup is one of my favourite betting races of the season, and it is nice to see a three-year-old in the field.
Warrant Holder heads the market for His Majesty the King, given his 6lbs "well-in" having been raised by that amount for finishing second at Royal Ascot in the Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes last month, yet can race from his old mark in this "early closing" handicap. He showed that this 10f trip was no issue when scoring over C&D from just a 5lbs lower mark back in May and is the one to beat.
The ew vote, however, my two against the field are Raammee and DANGER BAY, with preference for the latter, who has been laid out for the race since landing the Zetland Gold Cup at Redcar from an 8lbs lower mark.
That was a career best for Ed Bethell's four-year-old colt, but his trainer suggested he might make up into something better than a handicapper as the season progresses. He did disappoint on his sole previous visit to the track in September, which is a slight concern, but he looked one to follow on Teesside on his reappearance.
Raammee finished best of all in a hot Sandown handicap over a mile last time and looks the type for the Cambridgeshire later in the campaign. He is not guaranteed on breeding to get this extended 10f but is one to keep onside going forward.
Recommendation: Danger Bay (Each-Way) - 7/1 with Ladbrokes & Bet365
4:55pm York - Tabletalk
TABLETALK was beaten a neck by a rejuvenated Gregory in a listed race over C&D last month, when he had Mount Atlas a neck behind in third. He can confirm the form on the same terms this afternoon, although the market favours the Andrew Balding-trained third.
Tabletalk won the Melrose over C&D here a couple of seasons ago and was third in this corresponding race twelve months ago, when he travelled best but found, disappointingly, little.
Mount Atlas has yet to win beyond 12f, and I see no reason why she should reverse last month's form with the selection, although he was sent off 6/4 market leader last time with the Tom Clover-trained five-year-old at 9/1.
Arabian Force – tongue-tied for the first time – has only raced over 1m6f once previously, when third at Ascot back in October on good to soft ground. He will have to improve on recent starts to trouble the market leaders.
Recommendation: Tabletalk - 2/1 with Bet365
*Betting odds correct at the time of publication. All odds are subject to changes.
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