Charlie McCann’s Horse Racing Tips For Saturday, 30 May - Carlisle & Chester
Charlie heads to Carlisle 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.com.
1:30pm Carlisle - Opportunity (Nap)
OPPORTUNITY (Nap) finished third at Ascot over 12f on his first start since finishing last in the King Edward VII Stakes at the Royal meeting in June.
He was gelded the following month but didn't see the track until three weeks ago, when running best of those held up out the back. He is entitled to improve for the run, and I will be disappointed if he cannot build on the run and head back to the Royal meeting on the back of a win.
There was 5/2 available earlier in the week but he is a best price 7/4 at the time of writing.
Topteam finished second in a Newmarket handicap last time - 1lb higher today - and it would be no surprise to see William Buick dictate his own fractions, although he faces a difficult task trying to get to the front from stall thirteen.
Of more interest is Rogue Millions, making his seasonal debut. He was gelded over the winter and has joined the yard of Ed Bethell, from James Owen. There is more to come from the four-year-old this term, even though he only beat one horse home in his last two starts.
Recommendation: Opportunity (Nap) - 7/4 with bet365
2:53pm Chester - Believitanducan
The filly Solar Pass improved for the step up to this two-mile trip, and application of first-time cheekpieces, when second at Goodwood. Both her wins have come on the all-weather, but she goes well on turf, and Oisin Murphy returns to the saddle for Andrew Balding, who has such a good record at the track. She has been raised 1lb since Goodwood, but she has more options available now her stamina is proven at the distance.
The vote, however, goes to BELIEVITANDUCAN, who was a cosy winner of an apprentice race at Ascot last time from a 4lbs lower mark. In six flat turf starts, the five-year-old has only been out of the first three once, and that was on heavy ground over a mile as a juvenile. Billy Loughnane takes over in the plate for the first time for Alan King, and I would be disappointed if he has reached his ceiling from a mark of seventy-seven.
His Ascot form has yet to be tested, but he has a good draw in stall three and remains unexposed as a stayer.
Recommendation: Believitanducan
3:30pm Chester - Palmar Bay (Each-Way)
Supido took full advantage of a cracking draw when winning over slightly further at the feature three-day meeting here at the beginning of the month under Billy Loughnane. He is only 4lbs higher in the weights this afternoon, and he has again struck lucky with the draw in stall three. He is the one to beat, but I am going to take a chance on the top-weight PALMAR BAY (Each-Way), who has been plying his trade in listed company of late.
The selection has not had the best of the draw at either Haydock, when an excellent fourth, or Wolverhampton of late, and is 12lbs higher than when an impressive win over today's course and distance back in August on fast ground.
He has a better draw this afternoon in stall five, Ralph Beckett has his string in good form – his last eight runners have finished in the first three – and he is taken to get a good tow into the race from likely frontrunner Elements Of Fire – plum draw in stall one - before pouncing fast and late under Hector Crouch.
Recommendation: Palmar Bay (Each-Way) - 7/1 with bet365 (4 places)
3:45pm Carlisle - Crest Of Fire (Each-Way)
I went for Langstone in the Silver Bowl at Haydock last week and will feel daft if the grey lands his hat-trick. He has a poor draw in stall twelve of sixteen to overcome, however, and I have jumped ship to CREST OF FIRE, trained by Jack Channon.
Princling (3) heads the market on the back of easily landing the odds at Wetherby, having shaped with considerable promise in both juvenile starts. He has a plum draw and is the one to beat, but I got a positive message for the selection before last week's race, and his draw in stall seven sways me from Clive Cox's grey to another.
The selection easily landed the odds at Southwell on his first start this season, and his mark of eighty-six looks workable.
Langstone was carried across the track at Kempton last time and did well to get up to land that 7f Novice. He was going away at the end and, if they race down the centre of the track, his draw could be advantageous. I will likely back both greys, but the recommendation is Crest Of Fire.
Recommendation: Crest Of Fire (Each-Way) - 11/2 with Paddy Power (5 places)
4:38pm Chester - Home Hero
HOME HERO was sent off the joint favourite for his racecourse debut at Newbury but only beat one home under Oisin Murphy. The winner was the unbeaten top-class Guineas winner Bow Creek, but he ran no race although he did run well in his final juvenile start when fourth – got no run for at least two furlongs – at Haydock in a decent Novice won by the 80-rated Commanding Officer – note second also rated eighty.
Home Hero is not exactly thrown in from a mark of seventy-two, but he has been gelded over the winter, is bred to appreciate the step up to ten furlongs, has an excellent draw in stall two and will be trained to the minute for his local owners, who include Michael Owen. The booking of Jason Hart is another positive, with Hugo Palmer's go-to jockey Oisin Murphy claimed to ride Crockham Heath for Andrew Balding.
Crockham Heath is unbeaten in two starts on tapeta but has failed to sparkle in his two runs on turf and is best watched until he shows he is equally effective on grass.
Timber Twelve is also unbeaten in two starts on an artificial surface, but he disappointed at Epsom off this mark on his turf debut, and he has stamina to prove. Billy Loughnane is a positive booking for Michael Bell.
No stamina issues for Mayaada, who won at Salisbury at this trip on slow ground last time from a 4lbs lower mark. She had previously hinted that a step up in trip would suit when second over Epsom's extended mile, and the filly is considered the chief threat to the selection.
Recommendation: Home Hero
*Betting odds correct at the time of publication. All odds are subject to changes.
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