Charlie McCann's Horse Racing Tips Friday, 2 October - Ascot, Wolverhampton & Hexham
Charlie heads to Hexham 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.
3:00pm Ascot - Princling
The 0-90 Classified Stakes is a cracker, and my two against the field are both owned by the Oppenheimer family, with marginal preference for PRINCLING over Cockade on the ground.
Princling has been gelded by William Haggas since disappointing – too keen – at Newmarket back in July over ten furlongs. He ran a tremendous race from the worst of the draw at Royal Ascot (10f) in the Golden Gates on his penultimate start, having looked in need of further when fourth in the rerouted 1m Silver Bowl at Carlisle previously.
As is the norm, the form of the Silver Bowl is working out well, and the hope is that the return to a stiff mile – allied to the gelding procedure – will bring about the necessary improvement. The selection is returning from a twelve-week break, but as a son of Kingman one would imagine he will be fully wound up for his return and not be using the race as a prep for slower ground later in the autumn.
Cockade runs in the owner's first colours, and Will Buick takes the ride for the first time on this lightly raced son of Pinatubo who is, himself, returning from a lengthy lay-off (104 days). He was made an odds-on favourite in a mile Novice on the July course last time but finished third on ground (good to firm) which looked faster than ideal. His previous Windsor success came on good to soft ground, and conditions at Ascot were described as good (good to firm in places) on Thursday morning, with a dry forecast. He may have appreciated a bit more cut in the ground.
Recommendation: Princling - 10/3 with bet365
4:25pm Wolverhampton - Last Verse
Nolton Cross returned from a 692-day absence when scoring over course and distance from a 5lbs higher mark back in the spring, and he was not knocked about when beaten just over 6l here last month from a 1lb higher mark. A four-time course winner – three over course and distance – he is well handicapped and the one to beat, but marginal preference is for the three-year-old LAST VERSE.
The selection was readily brushed aside by the progressive subsequent winner Level Look – now 13lbs higher in the weights – over an additional two furlongs here last time when a shade keen, and this drop back down in distance will suit Joseph Parr's three-year-old who was formerly trained by Andrew Balding.
Balding saddles the handicap debutant Quiet Summer, who ran his best race over this trip when second in a Kempton Novice – beaten a head – back in August and may not have appreciated the drop back down in distance when third of four at Newcastle (10f) last time. Danny Muscutt, who has been in the plate for all three previous starts, keeps the ride.
Recommendation: Last Verse - 9/2 with bet365
4:33pm Hexham - Soldier In Mayo (Nap)
The enigmatic Jack Doyen remains well handicapped on his hurdles form despite winning three times over fences last season. He was not the most consistent of animals prior to that hat-trick back in the spring, and he could easily bounce back, although all career wins have come in the spring.
SOLDIER IN MAYO (Nap) is a winning pointer/hurdler and ran an excellent race behind a subsequent winner – now rated 23lbs in the weights - on chase debut at Bangor, returning from a 475-day lay-off last month.
He was beaten 5l in north Wales but jumped well - if a little out to his right at times – and do note he was taken out of a similar contest at Southwell yesterday to wait for this engagement, with rain due this afternoon at the track. One would presume that connections believe that any easing of the ground – described as a mix of good and good to firm on Thursday morning – would suit the six-year-old who will surely be rated higher than ninety-four come the end of the campaign.
Recommendation: Soldier In Mayo (Nap) - 5/4 with bet365
This is Charlie's Nap of the Day selection - see how it stacks up against Alan Kelly's pick too.
*Betting odds correct at the time of publication. All odds are subject to changes.
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