Charlie McCann's Horse Racing Tips Friday, 18 September - Ayr & Newbury
Charlie heads to Ayr 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.
There is rain forecast overnight at Ayr, and conditions for the opening day of the Western Meeting are likely to be a mix of soft and good to soft.
3:05pm Ayr - Beautiful Diamond
BEAUTIFUL DIAMOND won the listed 5.5f Fillies' sprint twelve months ago on soft ground following a 139-day absence, and she can double up this afternoon, returning from a 90-day lay-off.
The five-year-old clearly goes well fresh, enjoys soft ground, and she also won on this card as a juvenile. This is her time of the year, and she looks to have everything in her favour, although she only had a neck in hand of Fluorescence when finishing third here when last seen back in June. That was over the minimum trip; this additional 110y is in her favour, and the mare is 3lbs better off with Ed Bethell's filly.
One slight concern for favourite backers is that she will be ridden by Pierre-Louis Jamin for the first time, with regular jockey Clifford Lee having the day off and Sam James – who was in the plate in June – riding the stable's three-year-old Lam Yai.
The last three-year-old to win the race was back in 2021, but the lightly raced Lady Youmzain is considered the chief threat. A soft-ground winner of her sole juvenile start, this unusual 5.5f trip could be her optimum, although she only receives 2lbs from the selection.
The selection was put in at 9/4 by Sky Bet and Paddy Power on Thursday morning but was trimmed into 2/1 at the time of writing.
Recommendation: Beautiful Diamond - 2/1 with Sky Bet
5:20pm Ayr - Cascade Hall (Nap)
Just Dottie is another winner of the corresponding race last year who is back for more, and a 3lbs higher mark should not prevent a big run from the mare, although the eight-year-old has been out of form over hurdles during the summer.
It is hard to get away from the chances of CASCADE HALL (Nap), who would be carrying an additional seven pounds if the race were run tomorrow, having dotted up at Chester last Friday in a 2m apprentice handicap. Indeed, Lauren Young took off 3lbs on the Roodeye yet can claim 5lbs this afternoon, and Jim Goldie's seven-year-old will win if he replicates any of his last three runs.
The selection enjoys plenty of cut, and conditions are likely to be soft at best, with further rain forecast during racing. The selection doesn't have a great draw for one who likes to make all, but Chester showed that he doesn't have to lead.
Recommendation: Cascade Hall (Nap) - 11/8 with bet365
This is Charlie's Nap of the Day selection - see how it stacks up against Alan Kelly's pick too.
4:07pm Newbury - Catallus
Spy Chief heads the market in the listed Dubai Duty Free Cup and looks a good thing on the back of a neck second to subsequent dual Group 1 sprinter Almeraq at Salisbury – level weights – on his reappearance back in May.
The Gosden-trained, Godolphin-owned four-year-old has only had one race since beating just a couple home in the Wokingham at Royal Ascot – too keen and failed to get home – back in June. He has stamina to prove stepping up to 7f for the first time but is bred to appreciate seven furlongs and more. Ryan Moore is booked with William Buick wearing the second colours on CATALLUS for Charlie Appleby, and the latter gets the vote.
The selection was, surprisingly, used as a pacemaker for Toast Of New York in the 1m Group 3 Thoroughbred Stakes and did his job supremely well given he was still in front passing the furlong pole having led at a frantic pace. The drop back to seven furlongs will suit, although he did have a hard race at Goodwood.
He did us a favour when winning at the Sussex track in a handicap earlier in the year when I thought he looked at least listed class. Another to disappoint at the Royal meeting, he has been given seven weeks off since Goodwood. He was twice beaten by Northern Champion at Meydan earlier in the year, but he is taken to reverse the form with Ed Walker's three-year-old on 3lbs better terms.
The Appleby yard could hardly be in better form at present, with, at the time of writing, five of their last eight runners having won.
Recommendation: Catallus - 7/2 with Paddy Power
5:15pm Newbury - River Card
I backed RIVER CARD at Newbury on his belated seasonal reappearance looking for a bit of ease in the ground, but the forecast rain failed to materialise, and he drifted like a barge. The betting suggested he would need the outing, and, in the circumstances, he ran an absolute cracker to finish fourth over a mile.
He has only been given twenty-three days to get over what was his first start in eleven months, and he is a candidate to "bounce", but he is entitled to come on for his comeback run and his juvenile form – beat Group 1 winner Maltese Cross and the progressive Lost Boys over a mile on soft ground at Ascot – suggests he is well handicapped from a mark of eighty-six.
There are mixed messages in his pedigree about the step up to 10f for the first time, but the hope is that Tom Marquand – who rode him here last month – suggested ten furlongs would be ideal. David Egan takes over for the first time for Brian Meehan, who has his string in excellent shape at present.
Recommendation: River Card - 5/2 with bet365
*Betting odds correct at the time of publication. All odds are subject to changes.
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