Charlie McCann’s Horse Racing Tips For Wednesday, 13 May - York
Charlie heads to York on Wednesday for his best bet
It's a busy Tuesday of racing action in the UK and Ireland, and Charlie McCann is here with his exclusive free horse racing tips - only at FreeBets.com.
2:20pm York - Klassleader (Nap)
Conditions were a mix of good and good to firm at York on Tuesday morning, but there is significant rain forecast before and during racing, and conditions may be good to soft by the end of racing.
William Haggas has saddled the winner of the 12f handicap for four-year-olds+ twice since 2021, and his KLASSLEADER (Nap) can add to his record, although a best price of 3/1 is skinny enough in a competitive eleven-runner race.
The lightly raced selection is well drawn in stall five, and ended last term finishing second, beaten three-quarters of a length by Sing Us A Song over an additional quarter mile at Haydock from a 2lbs lower mark back in September. That run was on good to soft – as was his previous Ffos Las Novice success – and any rain is considered a plus.
He is 1lb better off with Sing Us A Song for Haydock, and there is again unlikely to be much between the pair this afternoon, especially considering the Ralph Beckett-trained four-year-old has had a run this season. I backed and recommended the gelding at Epsom, and he came there cantering two out before finding disappointingly little.
He will come on for his reappearance, but he gave the impression this 12f trip is now on the sharp side for him, and I expect him to be stepped up in distance as the season progresses.
Stressfree will relish any rain and ran well when second at Ripon off this lofty mark of 101 on his reappearance. This is a stronger race, and he has yet to win in five previous starts on the Knavesmire, although he has finished runner-up twice here, including in the corresponding race last year from a 7lb lower mark.
Recommendation: Klassleader (Nap) - 3/1 with bet365
4:40pm York - Startled & The Resdev Scholar
The last two winners of the 7f three-year-old handicap have been trained by Richard Hughes (Rare Change in 2025) and Mick & David Easterby with Diligent Resdev two years ago, and my two against the field are the Hughes-trained STARTLED and the Easterbys' THE RESDEV SCHOLAR.
I would normally want a low draw over seven furlongs at York, but with rain forecast, it is possible the field may come middle to stands' side, and the last five winners of the race have come out of stalls 9-4-8-8-14, which suggests the draw is of little consequence.
Both selections are adaptable regarding ground and Startled – heavy ground winner at Nottingham in October – is only 2lbs higher than when getting up close home at Newmarket at the Craven meeting on fast ground last month.
The Resdev Scholar will appreciate the rain more than most and won three on the spin as a juvenile back in the autumn on ground ranging from good to heavy. He took my eye when third at Beverley over 7.5f on his most recent start, but will need an end-to-end gallop.
Mark Winn takes over in the saddle with Joanna Mason presumably suspended, as she does not have any booked mounts until Friday. Mason's record on the horse reads 3-2-1-1-1-2-4-3, so it is a concern that she is not in the plate, and Winn has not ridden for the Easterby yard in the last fortnight. It is a surprise that he has been given the ride.
Recommendations: Startled - 17/2 with William Hill & The Resdev Scholar - 10/1 with Paddy Power
5:15pm York - Minhad & Master Builder
Calyx heads the market for the concluding 12f handicap, but the evidence is that he doesn't quite get home over the trip, and my two against the field are MINHAD and MASTER BUILDER.
Minhad is 4lbs higher for beating Nightsinwhitesatin a head at Thirsk last time, but the winner should have won at Chester last week when finishing second despite blowing the start. The third has since won, and the fourth – Lightning Tiger – was due to run at Lingfield on Tuesday evening. He remains unproven on soft ground, but if there is rain about, it should not make conditions any worse than good to soft. Kyle McHugh – who was in the plate at Thirsk – is good value for his 7lb claim and retains the ride.
Master Builder ran a terrific race first time out last season when runner-up at Epsom. His season went downhill subsequently, but he begins this term from an 11lb lower mark, and the David Menuisier yard are running well – albeit often in defeat. Any significant rain would be considered a positive, and Rossa Ryan is a positive booking.
Of those at bigger prices, I will be keeping an eye on Military Cross, who has been sold by Godolphin after failing to win any of his seven starts for the Gosdens', although he did finish runner-up on five occasions. He wears a first-time tongue-tie and has had a wind operation before his first start for Sam England.
Recommendations: Minhad - 15/2 with William Hill & Master Builder - 17/2 with William Hill
*Betting odds correct at the time of publication. All odds are subject to changes.
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