Charlie McCann's Horse Racing Tips Monday, 20 July - Cartmel & Windsor
Charlie heads to Windsor on Monday 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.
3:12pm Cartmel - Raffles Nobu
Nick Schofield turns out RAFFLES NOBU under a 7lbs penalty for last week's fluent Newton Abbot success, which suggests either he thinks he is going to get more than 7lbns when the revised weights come out tomorrow and/or he is in rude health and has come out of the race well enough to defy the rise.
He travelled like much the best horse last Monday under Jack Quinlan – keeps the ride today – and he was rated 113 when he left Nicky Henderson and can race from a mark of ninety-two this afternoon, including his 7lbs penalty.
Conditions were good to firm at Newton Abbot last week, and the ground is invariably on the slow side of good at Cartmel – times backed that up on Saturday - even in this latest heatwave/drought, but the selection won on ground described as soft in his native France and has run well on ground with plenty of give in Britain.
Recommendation: Raffles Nobu - 7/4 with bet365
The most interesting race on the card is the near 3m1f handicap chase.
Sean Og carries a 7lbs penalty for winning here on Saturday and looks the one to beat if over those exertions – does stay this trip. Slaney Opera didn't appear to be relishing the fast ground when I recommended him at Newton Abbot last week, but would probably have finished second had he not come down five out. I didn't think he got on particularly well with Harry Reed, but he will appreciate this better ground.
The one that interests me, though, is the 12-year-old Le Malin, who returns from a 571-day absence, having not seen the track since winning at Downpatrick on St Stephen's Day 2024. He has been beaten a length and half-a-length by the top-class Hunter Chasers Vaucelet and Billaway in the past and on the first of those runs it was returning from a 1215-day absence.
A market move would be more than noteworthy, and I will likely back him as long as he doesn't drift. The trainer – based in Northern Ireland – has another runner on the card, but Le Merlin is the one that intrigues.
7:50pm Windsor - Capichera
There is a terrific and valuable 10f fillies' handicap at Windsor this evening, and I thought Crystal Pier was a big disappointment at Newmarket last time. I am convinced she is better than that, but is best watched.
There are no prices at the time of writing, but my two against the field will probably head the market, the last-time out winners Sunshine Star and CAPICHERA, with preference for the latter.
Sunshine Star has gone off 15/8, 8/11, and 8/11 in her three starts and got off the mark on polytrack last time when landing a moderate Novice – restricted to horses who had raced twice or less - by nearly five lengths. She was beaten the best part of 10l at Sandown on her penultimate start by Felicitas, who is trained by Ed Walker, who saddles Capichera.
Walker should thus know where he stands with the Gosden-trained filly, and I thought Capichera looked potentially smart when the further she went, the better she looked at Pontefract over a mile last time. She is bred to appreciate the step up in distance and is taken to give weight and a beating to her field.
She was edged up the weights by 2lbs for her eight-and-a-half length success in West Yorkshire, but jockey Paul Mulrennan was impressed when interviewed post-race, and she can continue to progress as she steps up in trip.
Recommendation: Capichera - 15/8 with bet365
8:20pm Windsor - Fast Steps (Nap)
Oisin Murphy has had three rides for the inform Rod Millman in the last fortnight, and they have finished 2-1-1, and he can continue his excellent run for the stable on FAST STEPS (Nap).
Murphy has been in the plate for two of the eight-year-old's four career wins, including over course and distance from a 17lb high mark – albeit back in May 2023. He remains 13lbs above his last winning mark and looked to be coming back to something like his best when second beaten half-a-length at Ffos Las on his most recent start.
He had cheekpieces reapplied in South Wales, and the aid is fitted again this evening. Murphy last rode the selection last May when third over course and distance – beaten less than 2l – from a 14lbs higher mark.
Recommendation: Fast Steps (Nap) - 11/4 with bet365
*Betting odds correct at the time of publication. All odds are subject to changes.
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