Charlie McCann’s Horse Racing Tips For Thursday, 21 May - Musselburgh & Haydock
Charlie heads to Musselburgh 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.com.
Longchamp plays host to two Group 1's this evening and, as well as Arc winner Daryz in the D'Ispahan, there is a fabulous 1m7f with a strong British and Irish challenge with Al Riffa, Santorini Star, and Consent in opposition.
The 3:40pm at Catterick is an absolute cracker and, with Luke Morris in Paris for Consent, I am surprised that Sir Mark Prescott, without a winner for a month but only thirteen runners, has booked 7lb apprentice Poppy Scott – who has had just two rides this season – for Analogical, who was given a dreadful ride by Dylan Hogan at Thirsk last time.
Nightsinwhitesatin was slowly away at Chester last time and did well in the circumstances to finish fourth. Preference for the latter is marginal, but there can be no recommendation with the filly Percy's Daydream another to consider. I wonder if Scott will go forward from stall one. I felt Hogan should have adopted similar tactics last time.
3:50pm Musselburgh - Krissy (Nap)
There appears to be a heatwave coming to large parts of Britain over the next week or so, but there is rain forecast over the next 24 hours at Musselburgh, and I would not want the ground to deteriorate too much for KRISSY (Nap).
The mare caused a bit of a shock (18/1) when scoring over course and distance last month in the Skyb Bet Sunday Series and lost nothing in defeat when runner-up off this mark in a similar contest over an additional quarter mile last time.
She overcame a poor draw in stall ten (of 12) when winning here on her penultimate start and was last off the bridle at Hamilton. She does stay 11f, and Rhys Elliot will need to get the fractions right on the mare, although she will not get her own way on the lead with On The Bubble, another who likes to lead. Do note the latter's two career wins have come on soft ground, and she will appreciate every drop of rain that hits the track.
Ayr specialist Glasses Up stays further but should get the race run to suit and could easily pick up the pieces if the frontrunners cut their own throats.
Recommendation: Krissy (Nap) - 6/4 with bet365
5:00pm Musselburgh - Just Dottie
Star Cast did us a huge favour when scoring at Newcastle on her penultimate start and followed up at Ripon last time from a 3lbs lower mark. She is in the form of her life, but both those successes were gained over ten furlongs, and I am not convinced she is quite as effective over today's extended twelve-furlong trip.
I hope it's a good afternoon for Rhys Elliot as the mare JUST DOTTIE was in good form on the flat back in September and has had a recent run over jumps after a 200-day absence. Her win at Ayr came on soft ground over 1m5f from a 6lbs lower mark, but Elliot takes over in the plate, taking off a valuable 5lbs.
She travelled as well as anything when looking like a non-stayer over 1m7f on her last flat start at the end of September. The mare has had twenty-one starts over jumps (four wins) but has only had five starts on the flat and is entitled to come on for her Perth reappearance when she travelled well to two out.
Recommendation: Just Dottie - 8/1 with Virgin Bet
2:30pm Haydock - Scarlet Legend
The most interesting runner in the 12f maiden is the former Aintree Bumper winner Florida Dreams, who has proved disappointing over hurdles, and I am not surprised to see connections trying their hand at the flat game. The forecast soft ground – likely to be tacky and holding – is considered a plus, but he must give 17lbs to the classic generation, and that might be too much, especially with Andrew Balding's SCARLET LEGEND in the field.
The selection finished second on debut, beaten a head to an 83-rated rival, and is entitled to come on for the experience. He is a brother to the 2m Goodwood Cup winner Quickthorn and is bred to appreciate slow ground – son of Nathaniel – although he will likely stay further as the season progresses. If he wins well today, he strikes me as the type to run in something like the Queen's Vase at Royal Ascot, although I appreciate that could be deemed fanciful after just one Salisbury start.
Balding saddles two in the field, and Rob Hornby keeps the ride on the selection. Three of the last four winners Hornby has ridden have been for Johnny Portman, and I thought he gave that yard's Wondrous Light a terrific ride at Nottingham at the beginning of the week.
Recommendation: Scarlet Legend - Evens with bet365
*Betting odds correct at the time of publication. All odds are subject to changes.
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