Charlie McCann’s Horse Racing Tips For Friday, 26 June - Cartmel, Newcastle & Bangor
Charlie heads to Newcastle 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.
4:23pm Cartmel - Zumbi
Charlotte Jones announced her retirement from the saddle after ZUMBI scored at Cartmel over 2m1f+ last month. He is 8lbs higher in the handicap this afternoon, but that is negated by the 10lbs claim of Leah Noreci, who had ridden the grey to finish second on his two previous starts.
Trained locally by Jimmy Moffatt, the nine-year-old was breaking his duck over fences last time and steps up in trip by nearly half a mile this afternoon. He has won a point over 3m in the past, however, and his hurdles win here back in 2022 came over this intermediate 2m5f trip.
The selection is lightly raced for one of his age, having had three long spells on the sidelines in the past. If Moffatt can keep him fit, he looks the type to do well this year, and he is also entered back here on Sunday, again over fences but dropped back down in distance.
More was expected of Roi Du Roume at Newton Abbot on chase debut – went off at 7/4 – and he too holds entries here later in the week for Mickey Bowen. Brother Sean takes over in the saddle, and the grey has entries over both hurdles and the larger obstacles on Sunday. A check of the market is advised.
Recommendation: Zumbi - 5/4 with bet365
5:10pm Newcastle - The Ubermensch (Nap)
THE UBERMENSCH (Nap) drops back down in trip, having been last off the bridle at Doncaster in a 12f apprentice trip last time when he was struck across the nose by the winner's whip inside the final quarter of a mile.
It was no surprise to see his challenge peter out in the circumstances, but he did finish tamely, and the hope is that this return to 10f on tapeta – he has run well on the surface in the past – can see him break his maiden tag at the ninth time of asking in this amateur riders' event.
Jack Lander sounds like an American PI, but he has ridden three winners in the past, although the last of those was fifteen rides and 1062 days ago! He did have a ride for Karl Burke – finished second – at Wolverhampton last week, which should have blown the cobwebs away, and I believe there are races to be won with the son of Bated Breath and half-brother to a winner at the colt.
I am surprised this four-year-old is still an entire and would imagine a gelding operation awaits if he does not put his best hoof forward.
He's Our Cracker was a winner at Chelmsford earlier in the year, and trainer Jennie Candlish insists he is well handicapped at present. He is considered the chief threat, although his record on tapeta is nothing special.
Recommendation: The Ubermensch (Nap) - 3/1 with Ladbrokes
5:58pm Bangor - Country Park
Le Gentleman is 7lbs higher than when scoring over course and distance last time out on chase debut. That was not as good a race as this evening's, but he looked a natural over the larger obstacles, and that was his first start over two-and-a-half miles, and he might get further again.
Jack Tudor is riding very well at present - he must surely have been a candidate to replace Harry Cobden at Nicolshayne - and he takes over in the plate for a yard whose runners at their local track are always respected.
Presentandcounting will jump as well as anything in the field, but he is twelve now and vulnerable to younger legs.
The winning pointer COUNTRY PARK remains a maiden after eleven starts under rules, but I liked the way he jumped and travelled when fourth at Worcester on chase debut last month, when dropped out the back of his field.
With that experience under his belt, I hope to see him race more prominently this evening, although there is plenty of pace in the race with Presentandcounting likely to ensure a decent gallop.
Recommendation: Country Park - 11/4 with bet365
*Betting odds correct at the time of publication. All odds are subject to changes.
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