Charlie McCann's Horse Racing Tips Thursday, 20 August - York, Newmarket & Stratford
Charlie heads to Newmarket on Thursday 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.
3:00pm York - Blue Brother & The Angel King
There was another 1.4mm of rain at York overnight into Wednesday morning, and the course has had 11.6mm in the last week.
I must write this pre-racing on the opening day of the four-day meeting, and the suggestion is that conditions will be good to soft for today's card given there is a more significant band of rain due overnight into Thursday.
I thought the first two juvenile races would go across the Irish Sea courtesy of Star Of State and Sun Goddess, although not enough to back them at the current odds.
It will be interesting to see where they race in the home straight. A low draw is generally considered a positive on the round course, but if they race down the centre that negates the influence of the draw somewhat. That said, the last winner of the race who came from a double-figure draw was back in 2019.
Centigrade is a worthy favourite for the valuable mile handicap – formerly Bradford & Bingley – which has long been one of my favourite handicaps of the season. The lightly raced four-year-old was beaten a short head by the 111-rated Jonquil on debut and has won both starts since, including an impressive win on the AW at Southwell last time.
At 7/2 he is short enough in the market for such a competitive heat, and I have felt that the prevailing fast ground has been against BLUE BROTHER in his two starts at Ascot and Goodwood so far this term. He will appreciate being able to get his toe into the ground, and he is one of two I have backed against the field. He was dropped 1lb in the weights by the handicapper for Goodwood but must race from his old mark in this early closing race today. The ground is the key and the more rain the better.
Spell Master has had trouble in running in his last couple of starts and will have his supporters, but I am surprised to see THE ANGEL KING at 25/1 given he is well drawn in stall three and gave the impression he would appreciate the step back up to a mile when second at Chester last time over seven furlongs.
The grey was carried right at the start on the Roodeye but was no match for the well-backed Dance In The Storm. She stayed on the far rail at Chester, and it may have been an advantage racing down the centre of the course in the home straight. He has been raised 1lb for the run but can race from his old mark today.
Recommendations: Blue Brother - 10/1 with Paddy Power & The Angel King - 25/1 with bet365
4:10pm York - A La Prochaine (Each-Way)
The two market leaders in the Henry Cecil Stakes are returning from lay-offs. The mare Morrophone took her form to a new level on the all-weather over the winter, but she must prove her stamina for this 12f trip – every chance on breeding of getting the trip – take her form to a new level on turf and is returning from a 215-day lay-off.
A LA PROCHAINE (Each-Way) will appreciate any overnight rain and was last seen finishing fourth in the Oaks at the beginning of June. That form has taken a few knocks in the interim period, and the filly has looked more of a grinder than a quickener, but this long home straight should suit, and she remains open to significant improvement after just three career starts.
She impressed when scoring at Newbury on her sole juvenile start and obviously goes well fresh. The classic generation have won seven of the last ten renewals – but not for the last two years – and Vauntingly and the once-raced Without Prejudice are much respected, with the latter thrashing an 87-rated filly on debut over 10f – receiving 7lbs – on debut.
Recommendation: A La Prochaine (Each-Way) - 11/2 with bet365 (4 places)
3:45pm Newmarket - Race To The Stars (Nap)
Be Patient has hinted on more than one occasion that he would appreciate the step up to a mile-and-a-half and he is much respected for the very much in-form Ed Bethell, who has, at the time of writing, saddled five winners from his last eight runners. Jamie Spencer takes over in the plate for the first time on the three-year-old. The classic generation receive 9lbs weight-for-age from their elders over 12f.
The vote, however, goes to Charlie Appleby's lightly raced four-year-old RACE TO THE STARS (Nap) making a belated seasonal debut and, indeed, his first start since finishing second in a valuable and competitive 10f handicap at Chelmsford back in November.
The Sea The Stars gelding has only had three starts and didn't appear to stay 12f at Ascot on his second start, but all he did was stay at Chelmsford, and his breeding suggests he should get the distance and more as he develops. Toby Moore takes off a valuable 7lbs on the selection, who is 2lbs higher than when last seen.
His Southwell debut success came over 1m3f, and the possibility is that he will always prove better on a synthetic surface, but I must give him another chance on grass.
Recommendation: Race To The Stars (Nap) - 5/2 with bet365
7:36pm Stratford - Yes And Yes
Illogical Logic would be of interest if the market speaks in his favour, but in the near 3m4f handicap chase I hope to see YES AND YES outstay the Dan Skelton-trained mare Glenmalure Flyer, who made a winning British debut at Bangor (3m) on her penultimate start before disappointing back down in trip just four days later.
It is easy to put a line through the form of her last start – surely came too soon after Bangor – but she has been given plenty of time – over seven weeks – to get over those exertions, and preference is for Belinda Clarke's nine-year-old who has won his last couple and improved for the step up in trip beyond three miles for the first time.
Yes, he has been raised 12lbs for his two recent wins – including over course and distance – but he remains open to further improvement and he, too, is returning from a near three-month lay-off.
Recommendation: Yes And Yes - 13/8 with bet365
*Betting odds correct at the time of publication. All odds are subject to changes.
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