Charlie McCann’s Horse Racing Tips For Friday, 22 May - Goodwood, Haydock & Pontefract
Charlie heads to Goodwood 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.com.
4:17pm Goodwood - Enfjaar (Nap)
Haatem has won at Royal Ascot for the last two years, including the Wolferton Stakes over this 10f trip back in 2025. Trainer Richard Hannon has suggested that listed contest is a priority again this year, and preference is for ENFJAAR (Nap), who finished fourth, beaten a length-and-a-half, in that Ascot race back in June.
The five-year-old who won the John Smith's Cup at York back in 2024 was sold by Shadwell for 120,000gns back in February and is having his first start since July, having looked to find the ground a shade too quick at Newbury when third in another listed contest. He didn't have the best of luck in that Royal Ascot contest behind Haatem and is taken to reverse the form this afternoon.
The selection has only had ten starts on turf, remains open to further improvement and will enjoy any ease in the ground at the Sussex track. Note conditions were described as good to soft on Thursday morning.
La Botte went off just 10/3 for both the Lincoln and a listed Ascot race over their straight mile at the beginning of the month. He disappointed in both starts, and he will have to improve considerably for the step up to ten furlongs for the first time.
Some firms had published odds for the race on Thursday morning, with all firms offering 7/2. I would hope for an additional half-point or bigger when all firms come out later in the day.
Recommendation: Enfjaar (Nap) - 9/2 with bet365
4:52pm Goodwood - Kisskodi (Each-Way)
KISSKODI (Each-Way) won four times in 2025, including at Epsom and Brighton, and Goodwood should suit the Harry Eustace-trained four-year-old, who made a promising return at Southwell when third from a 1lb higher mark despite being hampered at the start and losing valuable ground.
He is drawn in stall one this afternoon and cannot afford to be slow away, or what looks like a good draw in one over seven furlongs could backfire. Cieren Fallon takes over for the first time on the gelding, who is only 2lbs higher than when scoring over this trip at Epsom back in September.
That Epsom success is his only victory over seven furlongs, and he only just gets the trip, but the track should suit, and he travelled like he was still well handicapped at Southwell on his reappearance. Mister Bluebird – who likes to race prominently – is drawn alongside the selection, and the hope is that the grey can tow the selection into the race before Fallon strikes fast and late, although he will need luck in running if they stick to the far rail.
Note his Epsom win came on ground officially good to soft (winning time 2.6 secs above standard) while he was taken out of a race at the same track on account of the conditions – deemed too soft – on similar ground later in the month. The winning time was one second slower, so conditions were softer – but only just!
Recommendation: Kisskodi (Each-Way) - 8/1 with bet365 (4 places)
4:40pm Haydock - Bnaider
The 10f London Gold Cup is historically one of the most competitive three-year-old handicaps in the calendar, and it was won last weekend by Lost Boys, who had previously scored at Sandown, where he had BNAIDER three-and-a-half lengths back in fourth, staying on nicely under Oisin Murphy.
I mention Murphy as I believe he would have had the choice of a number of mounts in the race, including Lavender Gold, who looked ready for a step up in distance when third under Murphy at Wolverhampton over their extended mile on handicap debut when last seen back in November.
Do note Bnaider has also been declared on Thursday morning for a race at Salisbury on Saturday evening, which suggests that connections are unsure about the suitability of conditions – described as soft on Thursday morning – at Haydock. There is a dry forecast, so the meeting is not in doubt, and Harry Charlton's gelded son of New Bay will appreciate further as the season progresses, but is one to keep onside in the short term.
Oathbound is stepping up in distance on handicap debut for William Haggas and will have his supporters having cost 200,000gns as a yearling. There are winners in his pedigree over this trip, but he will likely be over-bet, although he did have a net for today over a mile on his reappearance at Wetherby.
Recommendation: Bnaider - 11/2 with bet365
7:52pm Pontefract - Sea Of Kings
Trojan Soldier goes unpenalised for winning an apprentice race at Ripon over two miles on Sunday, when he was good value for his neck success, given that he had to wait for a run. He is now two from two since the application of cheekpieces and was certainly not stopping over that 2m trip, and looks as if he will relish the additional distance of this evening's marathon 2m1f+ contest.
SEA OF KINGS has stamina to prove, but finished fourth in the Melrose (1m6f) at York at the Ebor meeting and looks worth a try at the trip. Regular partner James Doyle is not riding at present, so Kaiya Frazer takes over in the plate for Wathnan Racing and Harry Eustace – I hope it's a good day for the stable – on the lightly raced four-year-old who remains a maiden after six starts – five on turf.
If he stays, he will win, and while that is a big IF, it is worth a try with connections, who invariably eye up the Royal meeting, possibly seeing if they have an Ascot Stakes contender on their hands. This is a big ride for the talented Fraser, with the hope that Trojan Soldier is short in the betting, chasing a quick hat-trick.
Recommendation: Sea Of Kings - 11/10 with bet365
*Betting odds correct at the time of publication. All odds are subject to changes.
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