Charlie McCann's Horse Racing Tips Saturday, 25 July - Ascot
Charlie heads to Ascot on Saturday 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.
2:55pm Ascot - Mezcala & Amazing Journey
The William Haggas-trained Extremely Zain has been raised 8lbs for his comfortable 2l York success last month, and there are many who believe the three-year-old is a Group horse in a handicap.
He beat eighteen horses' home on the Knavesmire, but only two winners have come out of the race, and one of those was a Beverley seller. The other winner was Aalto, who landed the Bunbury Cup for a second time at Newmarket earlier in the month. He met significant trouble in running on the Knavesmire under Ryan Moore, and Will Buick, who was in the saddle at Newmarket, maintains the partnership. He is a must for any shortlist, but he is becoming a July course specialist.
There is no guaranteed pace in the race, and Extremely Zain looks the type who would appreciate an end-to-end gallop. I can see him drifting on the day, and I have backed a couple against the field - MEZCALA and AMAZING JOURNEY.
Mezcala was last seen winning the Buckingham Palace Stakes a neck over course and distance at the Royal meeting under Tom Marquand from a 4lbs lower mark. That doesn't tell the whole story, however, as he met significant trouble in running and was value for more than the winning margin.
Having landed the Lincoln over a mile at the beginning of the season, the Jack Channon-trained five-year-old would not want a tactical race, but a 4lbs rise from the Royal meeting is fair, although he was favourably drawn, and the first four home came out of stalls 30-31-23 and 28.
Great Acclaim was third to Mezcala at the Royal meeting and has run in four of these ridiculously frequent 7f handicaps at Ascot and has finished 2-2-3-4. He deserves to win one of these, but is edging up the weights and is overlooked.
Amazing Journey carries a 3lbs penalty for landing a 6f handicap here last time and is 5lbs "well-in" having been raised 8lbs for that facile 2l+ success. He has yet to reach the frame in three starts at seven furlongs, but there have been excuses on all three occasions, and he gets in here at the foot of the weights.
No three-year-old has won the race in the last decade, which tempers confidence, but I think he will run a big race. Mezcala is drawn high in thirteen with Amazing Journey in four, but the hope is that with "just" the seventeen runners, the field all comes down the centre of the track.
Recommendations: Mezcala - 13/2 with bet365 & Amazing Journey - 8/1 with Ladbrokes
3:35pm Ascot - Minnie Hauk
A vintage King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes with six realistic contenders from Britain, Ireland, France, and Japan for the £1.1m first prize.
France has landed the prize with the geldings Calandagan (2025) and Goliath (2024) for the last couple of years, and both will have their supporters. Having backed Goliath for the Hardwicke last time, it was a difficult watch with Soumillon losing his irons when making what looked like a winning run. This is a better race – and a better renewal than his 2024 success, although he will get the end-to-end gallop he needs.
Calandagan is a worthy favourite but too short in the betting in such a stellar field, although he should confirm Japan Cup form with Masquerade Ball, whom he beat a head in Tokyo back in November.
Irish Derby winner Benvenuto Cellini will relish the ground but is drawn out on the wing in nine, while his stablemate MINNIE HAUK has a ground-saving draw in one. Ryan Moore must have had a difficult decision to make, and he has chosen the colt, but Minnie Haux has a record of 1-1-1-2-6 over a mile-and-a-half, with the second coming in the Arc on ground slightly softer than ideal, and the sixth, when she was surely over the top, in the Breeders' Cup Turf.
Luck will surely play its part, with Ballydoyle having four of the nine runners, and I am not concerned that Moore has chosen Benvenuto Cellini over the selection, with Wayne Lordan a more than adequate replacement.
Recommendation: Minnie Hauk - 13/2 with Ladbrokes
4:10pm Ascot - Edwin Hubble (Each-Way) (Nap)
I missed the 10/1 about EDWIN HUBBLE (Each-Way) (Nap) on Friday morning for the mile-and-a-half handicap, but the 13/2 available at the time of writing was still fair for Brian Meehan's three-year-old, although this is a much better race than the one he finished second at Windsor from a 2lbs lower mark last time.
That was his first start at this trip, and he met interference at a vital time, but it wasn't the difference between winning and losing. Tom Marquand takes over in the saddle this afternoon, and he is open to further improvement. He was backed into favouritism at the Thameside track, and he faces largely exposed rivals this afternoon.
The classic generation have won three of the last four renewals of this 0-80 handicap, and Akho Mezzna heads the market as he steps up to this trip for the first time. He was staying on all the way to the line when runner-up at Sandown (10f) last time from a 2lbs lower mark, and he has hinted that he needs a stiffer test, although his breeding suggests otherwise.
Recommendation: Edwin Hubble (Each-Way) (Nap) - 13/2 with Paddy Power (4 places)
4:45pm Ascot - Grizedale
I am still kicking myself for not recommending GRIZEDALE at Newbury last time, although I did give him a positive mention. I was put off by the fact that he was carrying 10st 9lbs, but he dotted up by over 4l, although it did seem to be an advantage if you raced down the centre of the track.
He has gone up a stone for winning his last couple of starts, and this represents a big step up in grade, but Oisin Murphy returns to the plate, and he is taken to defy a 9lbs rise for his Newbury romp.
Blue RC finished second in the Hunt Cup from a favourable draw and has been raised 4lbs. Colin Keane is a positive booking, but James Tate could be in better form.
Recommendation: Grizedale - 4/1 with William Hill
*Betting odds correct at the time of publication. All odds are subject to changes.
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