Charlie McCann’s Horse Racing Tips For Wednesday, 1 July - Thirsk, Worcester & Epsom
Charlie heads to Thirsk on Wednesday 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.
3:40pm Thirsk - Temple (Nap)
Only five go to post for the 12f three-year-old handicap, but all hold realistic claims.
Karl Burke's Frankel colt Asia Force would appreciate any rain that hits the track, but there is little forecast, while the Haggas-trained York Tower is not bred to appreciate this far. That said, all he did was stay at Epsom when fourth over 10f on Derby Day, although I'm not convinced that form will stand up with few acting on what was soft ground, with several of the opposition failing to go on the ground.
I'm going to take a chance on TEMPLE (Nap) – presumably named after the goalscorer of the winning goal in the 1966 FA Cup Final – who cost 575,000 gns as a yearling and was apprentice ridden when a never-nearer third at Newmarket on handicap debut last month, returning from a fifty-five-day break.
By Wootton Bassett out of a useful winner at this distance, Temple will be ridden by Harry Davies this afternoon. Davies rode a winner for the stable of Jane Chappel-Hyam last week and, with Billy Loughnane at Epsom this evening, takes over in the plate on the three-year-old who is open to significant further improvement after just four career starts.
Recommendation: Temple (Nap) - 5/2 with bet365
1:20pm Worcester - Yes Day
A cracking near 3m handicap chase and Pike Road reverts to fences from a 5lbs mark than his rating over timber, having finished an excellent second over hurdles here last time. He has only raced twice over fences previously and would likely have won had he not breasted three out and unseated his jockey at Ludlow when last seen over the larger obstacles – albeit in a three-runner race – at Ludlow back in October.
The vote, however, goes to YES DAY, who stays much further, but ran a terrific race in first-time cheekpieces when second over an additional half mile at Stratford last time. The winner – Imperial Alex – landed the Summer Cup at Uttoxeter on Sunday and, if the headgear works the oracle a second time, that form gives him every chance of going one better.
The selection has been raised 1lb since Stratford, but can still race from a mark 10lbs lower than his hurdles mark. He will need a decent test of stamina at this trip, but led two out, going best, last time, and he gets the vote.
Recommendation: Yes Day - 7/2 with bet365
3:55pm Worcester - Phantom Gold
PHANTOM GOLD was reported to be off his head – sorry feed – when a late withdrawal at Newton Abbot last month over 2m2f. He had gone into my notebook when a fast finishing second at Stratford on his last start, when he was given far too much to do over the minimum trip.
He has been raised 4lbs for that effort, and Sean Quinlan takes over in the plate from Ian Power. The hope is that he is ridden more positively this afternoon, as that 4lbs is harsh given the winner – Prettylady – ran a shocker when last of four at Bangor-on-Dee last time. I thought the additional 2f of Newton Abbot was a positive, and the return to the minimum trip is a slight concern, hence the hope that he is ridden more forward today.
Blazing Saint has only been raised 4lbs for winning a Southwell handicap (33/1) last time and looks the one to beat, although I don't associate the Christian Williams stable with double carpet winners. They generally know when they have a well handicapped charge, but this success was obviously a nice surprise. He won't be a double-figure price today, but he represents the chief threat.
Recommendation: Phantom Gold - 11/2 with bet365
6:57pm Epsom - Central Command & Alma Latina
Analogical was excellently ridden by Poppy Scott at Catterick when making all on his penultimate start, but went off far too quickly and only beat one horse – and the ambulance – home at Goodwood last time. Dylan Hogan – who I was so critical of on the horse on his previous start at Thirsk – returns to the plate for Sir Mark Prescott and he remains fairly handicapped despite the steadier of 10st 3lbs.
The race was won by a member of the classic generation last year, and I will be surprised if the winner is not one of CENTRAL COMMAND or ALMA LATINA, both progressive three-year-olds who won last time out. There are no prices available at the time of writing, but I would be surprised if we didn't get around 4/1 the pair, and that would be fair enough.
Central Command beat a subsequent 1m6f winner a neck when scoring at Doncaster last time with the third over 3l behind, and a 5lbs rise looks fair, especially when you consider the runner-up – My Ballyquinn - is now rated 9lbs higher.
Alma Latina steps up to 12f for the first time, but there is plenty of stamina in her pedigree, and I thought she hit the line hard when winning a 10f Pontefract maiden comfortably at the beginning of June.
Of the older horses, Arcturus Flame – blinkered for the first time by Richard Hughes – is considered the chief threat. He got going too late at Salisbury over 12f last time, but Billy Loughnane is an eye-catching booking.
Recommendations: Central Command - 10/3 with bet365 & Alma Latina - 15/8 with bet365
*Betting odds correct at the time of publication. All odds are subject to changes.
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