Charlie McCann's Horse Racing Tips Friday, 24 July - Ascot & Uttoxeter
Charlie heads to Ascot 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.
3:30pm Ascot - Fireblade
The 2nd and 3rd in the Northumberland Plate, Kirchner and Synergism, lock horns again in the four-runner 2m Brown Jack Handicap, but I thought FIREBLADE ran a tremendous race when second over 1m6f here last time from a 2lbs lower mark, and he is taken to go one better.
The selection may have bumped into a very well handicapped three-year-old – potential Melrose runner Galilean Quality – here last time and is only 5lbs higher than when scoring over course and distance in the Shergar Cup back in August. Callum Rodriquez was in the plate here earlier in the month and keeps the ride for Dylan Cunha.
Kirchner has only had eight career starts and won for Jean-Claude Rouget over a mile at Chantilly on debut. He was having just his third start for James Owen when runner-up in the Plate at Gosforth Park over a 2lb lower mark on what was his first start at the trip.
Synergism can race from the same mark as when third in the Plate, having won a modest four-runner event at Lingfield over 1m6f on his penultimate start.
The most interesting runner in the field is, arguably, the Charlie Johnston-trained filly Ghaiyya, who is a half-sister to five winners, including the stable's Gold Cup winner Subjectivist. The filly ran well over 1m5f at Hamilton back in May, but is unproven over this 2m trip with all four career wins coming over 12f on fast ground. She is obviously bred to relish the trip, but must show those reserves of stamina on the track.
Recommendation: Fireblade - 3/1 with bet365
4:05pm Ascot - Al Azd (Nap)
The classic generation have won the last two renewals of the 12f handicap, and I hope to see AL AZD (Nap) make it three on the spin despite having been raised 8lbs for finishing second – beaten half a length - in the King George V Stakes at Royal Ascot last month.
Roger Varian's gelded son of Dubawi found 10f on the sharp side in the London Gold Cup previously, but his record over a mile-and-a-half now reads 1-2. He is now rated 100, but the classic generation receive 11lbs weight-for-age from their elders at this time of the season over 12f, and he is one of only two three-year-olds in the field.
The other three-year-old in the field, Charlie Appleby's Study Of Words, palpably failed to stay 1m6f on his last start, but he may actually struggle to get home over this distance, and ten furlongs might be his optimum.
French Duke won at Glorious Goodwood a couple of years ago and scored out in Meydan earlier in the year, but he has the steadier of 10st 2lbs. The best of the older horses may be the ex-Gosden-trained Theory Of Tides, who finished second on his first start for Jamie Osborne at Sandown over 10f earlier in the month. He is another who has yet to convince, however, he truly stays a mile-and-a-half.
The selection has opened up 11/8 with Paddy Power and Sky Bet. I would hope for something closer to 7/4 when other firms publish their odds.
Recommendation: Al Azd (Nap) - 11/8 with Sky Bet
5:00pm Uttoxeter - Merely A Detail & Ghasham
A terrific and ultra-competitive 2m handicap chase, and I am going to back a couple against the field.
Ice Jet is likely to be all the rage for Dan Skelton, and he probably should have won here last time when making a mistake at the last, having been given plenty to do. That was over 2m4f on his chase debut, and he will have to brush up on his jumping back at the minimum trip.
That said, the four-year-old remains open to significant improvement, although his three previous wins over hurdles all came over an additional half mile. The hope is that he is put in too short by the layers, although he should have the race run to suit.
MERELY A DETAIL has been raised 5lbs for winning on her chase debut, but she jumped well and travelled powerfully at Worcester and has the scope to leave her hurdles rating well behind over the larger obstacles.
I am also going to back GHASHAM from the foot of the weights, although I do think – like many in the field – he would prefer an additional half mile for Sam and Jonathan England.
The selection – a former Skelton inmate - has yet to finish out of the first three in four chase starts – won at over 2m Hexham last month from a 3lbs lower mark last month – and is likely to get the good gallop he needs back at the minimum trip.
He is not bred to jump a fence, but he has taken well to the larger obstacles and should continue to progress over fences.
Recommendations: Merely A Detail - 6/1 with bet365 & Ghasham - 12/1 with bet365
*Betting odds correct at the time of publication. All odds are subject to changes.
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