Charlie McCann's Horse Racing Tips Friday, 31 July - Goodwood & Galway
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.
1:50pm Goodwood - Valiancy & Maxi King (Each-Way)
Circumstances dictate that I must write this during racing on Wednesday and Wathnan have just had a Group race double. They look to have every chance back in handicap company in Friday's opener courtesy of VALIANCY, one of two in the marathon 2m4f handicap I have backed.
Valiancy was slowly away and was doing all his best work late on when sixth in the 1m6f Copper Horse Stakes at Royal Ascot last month, giving the impression he would relish an even stiffer test of stamina. A dual winner at 1m6f, he must prove he stays this trip, but if he does, he will be hard to beat, having been dropped 1lb for Ascot.
MAXI KING (Each-Way) finished runner up under Toby Moore in the 2m2f Chester Cup and finished fourth in the Queen Alexandra Stakes over 2m5f+ last time when not claimer ridden. His talented 7lbs apprentice is back on board this afternoon, and this strong stayer looked overpriced at 14/1.
Defiantly won the 2m Ascot Stakes at the Royal meeting last month and a 4lbs rise is more than fair. Joseph O'Brien has a strong team of stayers this term – saddled seven in the Ascot Stakes – and this progressive stayer is his sole representative. That is, arguably, a tip in itself.
Recommendations: Valiancy - 9/2 with bet365 & Maxi King (Each-Way) - 14/1 with William Hill (5 places)
3:00pm Goodwood - Blue Brother (Each-Way)
My shortlist for the Golden Mile consisted of Scoville, Indalo, Tribal Chief and BLUE BROTHER (Each-Way), and preference is for the latter, who gets the each-way vote in the hope that he settles better than was the case at Royal Ascot when fourth in the 7f Buckingham Palace on his first start in a year.
The selection has a decent draw in eight – low draw is a big advantage – and was the subject of a huge gamble in last year's Hunt Cup when not getting the gaps when needed and was beaten over ten lengths. He is 2lbs lower this afternoon, and this easy mile looks ideal. If more amenable to restraint, he looks sure to run a big race.
Scoville must overcome a desperate draw, while Tribal Chief will likely lose his race at the start, invariably slowly away. His last success was over course and distance back in August from a 3lbs lower mark, but that was in an eleven-runner race, and Jamie Spencer – taking over for the first time - will do well to weave his magic in this twenty-runner field.
Indalo has a terrific draw in six and carries just a 3lb penalty for his Sandown success at the beginning of the month. He will need an end-to-end gallop as he needed every yard of that stiff mile to get up at the Esher track.
Recommendation: Blue Brother (Each-Way) - 15/2 with bet365 (5 places)
4:10pm Goodwood - Haatem
Ambiente Friendly finished second in the Derby of 2024 but finished second in a handicap hurdle at Fakenham at the end of May off a mark of 115. That said, I am going to throw a fiver on him at 33/1 in the 9f+ Conditions Stakes as he has a plum draw in stall two, and I wonder if Billy Loughnane will just blast off in front.
As was the case at Royal Ascot, Galen is posted out on the wing in stall nine of nine – on the outside of HAATEM, who gets a narrow vote. The pair have met in the last two renewals of the Wolferton Stakes at Royal Ascot with the score 1-1, although Galen gave Haatem 5lbs when beaten less than a length in 2025.
You can put a line through Haatem's run last month – finished last – as he was all dressed up with nowhere to go throughout the home straight, and he must have gone close with a clear run.
Haatem had enough speed to win the 7f Jersey Stakes as a three-year-old, and this Conditions event represents a drop in class – as it does for Galen – for Richard Hannon's five-year-old, who will have the race run to suit and can strike fast and late. I hope it's another good day for Wathnan.
Recommendation: Haatem - 10/3 with bet365
5:20pm Goodwood - Into The Light
Waterford Castle finished in front of INTO THE LIGHT over 12f at Royal Ascot, but the latter is taken to reverse the form with the slight drop back in trip on this easier track considered a plus for both.
Into The Light was backed into 4/1 in the King George V Stakes last month, but was posted wide throughout, and his finishing effort was tame, although he was only beaten 8l. He is fitted with cheekpieces for the first time by Charlie Appleby this afternoon, and the Boys In Blue could do with a winner having had a barren first two days at the meeting.
Stamina shouldn't be a problem for Into The Light on breeding – out of a French listed winner over 12f+ - and he ran a terrific race when a short head second at Sandown behind Lost Boys back in the spring over 10f when doing all his best work late on.
He is 5lbs higher this afternoon, but the winner is now 20lbs higher in the handicap, and jockey Will Buick should be able to hug the rail from his draw in stall two. He may need luck in running in the home straight, but I will be disappointed if he does not run a big race, although he will need to break on terms.
Waterford Castle remains a maiden after nine starts but has finished second five times and is fitted with blinkers for the first time. This 11f trip looks his optimum and George Boughey and Billy Loughnane will not be lacking in confidence after Bow Echo's brilliant Sussex Stakes win on Wednesday.
A footnote to the Sussex. I would love to see Opera Ballo drop back to 7f at York next month or at Longchamp in the Foret in October.
Recommendation: Into The Light - 9/2 with bet365
5:55pm Goodwood - Room Fourteen (Nap)
The William Haggas-trained Silver Lake is as short as Evens in places for the concluding 10f fillies' handicap, and the classic generation receive a generous 9lbs from their elders.
The grey was only raised 2lbs for winning at Salisbury last time out, which seems more than fair, and she could easily be another Wathnan-owned winner with Saffie Osborne taking over in the saddle. James Doyle and stable jockey Tom Marquand are unable to do 8st 6lbs but it is a vote of confidence for Osborne who is riding out of her skin at present.
Zgharta is 6/1 with bet365 three places in this seven-runner race, and that looks fair, having run an eye-catching race at Chester last time. I cannot desert ROOM FOURTEEN (Nap), however, who has done us a couple of favours so far this term and can defy a 6lbs rise for her latest Doncaster success.
Ryan Moore takes over in the saddle for the first time for James Fanshawe and the 11/4 with bet365 – they are one of the firms Evens about the jolly – looks fair.
Recommendation: Room Fourteen (Nap) - 11/4 with bet365
*Betting odds correct at the time of publication. All odds are subject to changes.
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