Charlie McCann's Horse Racing Tips Saturday, 31 October - Ascot, Wetherby & Keeneland
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.
Charlie McCann's Tips - Saturday, 31 October
Good ground at Ascot for their first jumps card of the season. Media Mogul (12:50pm) was mulish before the start at Worcester last time and was 20l behind the peloton going to the first hurdle.
In the circumstances, he ran an extraordinary race to finish second in the valuable Fixed Brush Series Final.
If he looks more likely to go with the field down at the start – and David Bass will be ready this time - then I will back him from a 3lbs higher mark.
Make no mistake, had he started on terms he would have won that ultra-competitive heat impressively, and this faster ground holds no terrors.
Conditions will be genuinely good today. It was no better than good to soft at Worcester.
2:00pm Ascot - Gabriel’s Getaway & Aero’s Luck
The last two winners of the valuable 2m1f handicap chase Teddy Blue (2025) and Martator (2024) are back for more. The latter won the Grand Annual at Cheltenham last season and is one of the few Venetia Williams horses not particularly well handicapped at the start of the new campaign.
Vanderpoel is the one horse in the field who could run away with the prize, and he has an excellent record both going right-handed and in the first half of the season. Ben Pauling has had a moderate start to the new season, however, and my two against the field are GABRIEL’S GETAWAY and AERO’S LUCK, and I have backed the pair.
Gabriel’s Getaway finished second in the corresponding race last year beaten less than a length and is 22lbs better off with the winner Teddy Blue. He races off a 7lbs lower mark this afternoon and first time out might be the time to catch him.
Lucas Murphy is going to be a top-class jockey and is excellent value for his 7lbs claim. He rides market leader Jet To Vegas in the previous race and keeps the ride on his grandfather’s Scottish raider Aero’s Luck, who was well supported when third at Kelso last month. The selection won a Punchestown handicap chase last June for Gavin Cromwell from a 3lbs higher mark – 10lbs if you include his amateur jockey’s claim – and he should be spot on after his run at the Borders track.
Recommendations: Gabriel’s Getaway - 9/1 with Paddy Power & Aero’s Luck - 9/1 with bet365
2:33pm Ascot - Queensbury Boy
It could be a red-letter day for Lucas Murphy as he also rides guaranteed stayer Viroflay in the valuable 3m handicap chase. I mention stamina as Califet En Vol failed to get 3m over timber and is reluctantly overlooked for that reason alone.
QUEENSBURY BOY looked a non-stayer at Uttoxeter in the Summer Cup behind Imperial Alex back in June but got up in the shadows of the post to subsequently beat Kingston Narcissus in the Summer Plate over 2m5f+ at Market Rasen the following month in first-time cheekpieces.
I am of the opinion he is best going right-handed; good ground is his optimum, and Brendan Powell takes over from the injured James Bowen. The 8/1 on Friday morning looked fair.
Last year’s winner Henry’s Friend is 1lb lower this year and would have got the vote were it not for the form of the Pauling stable. I will be monitoring their runners earlier in the card and may save on Kielan Woods’ mount if results speak in their favour.
Recommendation: Queensbury Boy - 8/1 with bet365
Backing Charlie’s selections today? Plenty of welcome offers are waiting at freebets.com to help you get the best prices.
3:43pm Ascot - Parchment (Each-Way)
The David Pipe stable could be in better form, and PARCHMENT (Each-Way) has shown next to nothing in two starts over hurdles for the yard. His impressive win at Clairefontaine came on soft ground, but he did have the 130-rated Pourquoi Pas Papa back in second in France, and on that piece of form a mark of 116 looks workable for his handicap debut.
He has well travelled into the race in both starts in Britain at Kempton and Taunton, and the hope is that he just needed more time to acclimatise to his new surroundings. The 22/1 with Ladbrokes and Coral on Friday morning looked more than fair, although I appreciate this is an ultra-competitive heat.
Recommendation: Parchment (Each-Way) - 22/1 with Ladbrokes (4 places) or 18/1 with bet365 (5 places)
3:30pm Wetherby - Race To Base
The winning pointer RACE TO BASE will likely be chasing sooner rather than later for Nick Schofield, but connections look to have found an excellent opportunity to make a winning reappearance over timber.
The selection has been raised 3lbs for finishing second in a valuable Sandown handicap on bet365 Gold Cup Day, belying odds of 33/1. That was just his second start for the yard – bogged down on soft ground on first – and the six-year-old won a Bumper and Novice Hurdle for his previous yard both on good ground.
Klitschko finished second to subsequent winner Williethebuilder – runs Ascot under top-weight – at Sedgefield last time and is considered the chief threat. Jack Quinlan rides the selection, and he might have to make his own running as there is no guaranteed pace in the race, which is a slight concern.
Recommendation: Race To Base - 11/8 with William Hill
4:03pm Wetherby - Sledgehammer (Nap)
Three of the four runners in the concluding 3m handicap chase are last-time-out winners and the other – Paddy O’Mahler – is a personal favourite representing an in-form yard.
Sean Bowen takes over on SLEDGEHAMMER (Nap), and he looked rejuvenated when landing a bit of a gamble at Hexham on his first start for his new yard earlier in the month. A 6lbs rise looks fair given he still receives 8lbs and more from his three rivals.
The champion jockey rode the first two winners at Uttoxeter yesterday with the prospect of more to come, but he had gone 14 rides without a winner prior to Hold The Serve, and I thought he gave at least two of those fourteen horses a poor ride.
Recommendation: Sledgehammer (Nap) - 15/8 with bet365
This is Charlie's Nap of the Day selection - see how it stacks up against Alan Kelly's pick too.
5:48pm Keeneland - Comanche Brave
Recommendation: Comanche Brave - 3/1 with bet365
10:16pm Keeneland - Sovereignty
Recommendation: Sovereignty - 3/1 with bet365
*Betting odds correct at the time of publication. All odds are subject to changes.
For more daily previews across every sport, check out our full betting tips hub, and head to our guide on the best betting sites for the latest sign-up offers to back today's selections.
More Horse Racing Tips
Check out more from the Freebets horse racing hub, including tips, stats, market movers and today’s racecards!
