Charlie McCann's Horse Racing Tips Friday, 17 July - Newbury, Pontefract & Newmarket
Charlie heads to Newmarket on Friday 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.
5:55pm Newbury - Devil's Peak
The Sandown 10f maiden winner Turty Tree steps up in trip by a furlong for his handicap debut for Andrew Balding. Tom Marquand was in the plate – a rare ride for the stable – at the Esher track, but Oisin Murphy takes over in the saddle this afternoon.
That Sandown success was gained in first-time cheekpieces, and the headgear is applied again this evening. The classic generation receive 10lbs weight-for-age from their elders over 11f, and this son of New Bay is the one to beat.
I am going to take a chance, however, on the other three-year-old in the field, DEVIL'S PEAK, who looked an unlucky loser when second at Kempton over this trip back in April off just a 2lbs lower mark. He ran a good race in the circumstances, slowly away and ran with the choke out, when beaten 2l at Sandown over ten furlongs last time and William Buick, who was in the saddle at both Kempton and Sandown, maintains the partnership.
Recommendation: Devil's Peak - 9/4 with bet365
6:00pm Pontefract - Satyress
SATYRESS improved for the step up to 12f when scoring at Beverley last time, and she can follow up in the opening 0-50 Classified Stakes for apprentice jockeys, which opens the card at Pontefract.
The filly has only had five starts on turf and was always travelling well when scoring at Beverley, although the second, Bruce Banner, met trouble in running and was, arguably, an unlucky loser. Do note the runner-up was due to run at Hamilton (5:10pm) on Thursday.
A good run would be a boost to the chances of the filly who was described – tongue-in-cheek perhaps – as "the best handicapped horse in Yorkshire" after her win at the Westwood.
Hansteen is the obvious danger and has been raised to a mark of fifty-three, having finished second in a slowly run 12f Ripon handicap last week. Jake Dickson takes over on the three-year-old who receives 11lbs from the older horses. He looks sure to go off a warm favourite on the back of that short head defeat, and Dickson will likely lead and hope to set his own fractions.
Recommendation: Satyress - 5/2 with Sky Bet
6:58pm Newmarket - Al Aali (Each-Way) (Nap)
War Hawk was disappointing out in Meydan earlier in the year, but a market move would be worth noting for Simon and Ed Crisford, who have booked talented 5lbs claimer Mason Paetel.
High Degree has been expensive to follow so far this term, having been a beaten favourite - sent off 11/8, 7/4, and Evens – on all three starts so far this term. He looked ready for a return to 10f, having got going too late, at Musselburgh over 1m1f last time, having finished second at this distance behind subsequent John Smith's Cup runner-up Hand Of God at Newbury off this mark back in May.
Cieren Fallon returns to the plate for the first time since Newbury – also rode the four-year-old for his sole victory to date – and he looks sure to be popular again given his powerful connections.
Billy Loughane owes us one, having given Beylerbei a shocker here earlier in the month. Having backed him at 20s and 18s, that was a tough watch, but I hope he can bring about a change in fortunes on the George Scott-trained AL AALI (Each-Way) (Nap), who is blinkered for the first time.
The ew selection failed to get home over an additional couple of furlongs in the Old Newton Cup here last time in first-time cheekpieces. Scott changes both headgear and jockey this evening, and the four-year-old is 6lbs better off with High Fibre for the 4l he was behind that rival at Newbury earlier in the year when he didn't have the clearest of passages and was not knocked about when his winning chance had gone.
The selection has not had much luck with the draw in recent starts, but he has a ground-saving stall in one tonight.
Recommendation: Al Aali (Each-Way) (Nap) - 7/1 with bet365 (2 places)
*Betting odds correct at the time of publication. All odds are subject to changes.
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