Charlie McCann's Horse Racing Tips Wednesday, 19 August - York & Worcester
Charlie heads to York 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.
2:25pm York - Gentle Hurricane (Each-Way)
Circumstances dictate I must write this on Monday evening. York's Ebor meeting is one of the highlights of the flat season.
Haffner sets the standard for the Group 3 Acomb Stakes for Ballydoyle, who last won the race with the ill-fated Lion In Winter a couple of years ago. His second to Dr Rio in the Group 2 Vintage Stakes at Goodwood sets the standard, but the bar is not set too high, and his previous Newmarket success in a maiden is not working out that well.
Allied to the fact that he is drawn out on the wing in stall eleven – of eleven – and I am happy to look for an each-way alternative. Trean won the same Galway maiden that Constitution River (runs 3:35pm) won twelve months ago, but he needs to improve again, and I am going to take a chance on GENTLE HURRICANE (Each-Way) for Andrew Balding.
The stable have won the corresponding race twice in the last four years, on both occasions with Group 1 winners Chaldean (2022), who went on to land the Guineas and the ill-fated Dewhurst winner Gewan twelve months ago.
The selection was receiving 7lbs from the second in a Salisbury Novice on debut, but he was going away at the line over that six-furlong trip, and he is open to significant improvement as he steps up in trip. He has entries in the Dewhurst and Champagne Stakes going forward, and Oisin Murphy will be desperate to get an early winner in the last major flat festival of the summer.
Recommendation: Gentle Hurricane (Each-Way) - 17/2 with William Hill (3 places)
3:35pm York - Item (w/o Ombudsman & Constitution River) (Nap)
The £1.5m Juddmonte International is the feature of the meeting and, for many, it is a match between Godolphin's brilliant winner of the corresponding race last year, five-year-old Ombudsman and the French Derby winner Constitution River.
Like most, I just favour the older horse, but there is plenty of pace in the race, and that should suit ITEM, who I have supported in the market without the big two. The selection bombed out in the Derby when the combination of soft ground and 12f found him out, but he is unbeaten in two starts over course and distance, winning both the Dante and York Stakes earlier in the season.
They were both Group 2 contests, and he may lack the brilliance of the market leaders, but the guaranteed strong pace will suit, and he loves the long home straight on the Knavesmire. I expected him to be near Evens, and I felt the 11/8 on Monday was fair. He is likely to be off the bridle before the big two, but he will be staying on all the way to the line. I hope it's a good day for Andrew Balding.
Recommendation: Item (w/o Ombudsman & Constitution River) (Nap) - 11/8 with William Hill
4:10pm York - Kirchner (Each-Way)
With Billy Loughnane chasing the jockey's title at Kempton this evening, Ryan Moore takes over in the plate on KIRCHNER (Each-Way) who is taken to defy a 6lbs rise for his fluent 4l Ascot success on just his second start over 2m and his first on turf.
The grey had previously finished second in the Northumberland Plate, and he looks a stayer worth following for the outstanding Owen. The four-year-old won at Chantilly on debut for Jean-Claude Rouget and looks another purchase by The Rogues Gallery. The 5s available with bet365 at the time of writing – five places – looked fair.
Small Fry looked an unlucky loser at Goodwood in their 1m6f handicap last time, and a 4lbs rise is more than fair. Dylan Browne McMonagle takes over in the saddle for the first time for Joseph O'Brien while any further rain would suit Ride The Thunder although he may be best watched at present.
Recommendation: Kirchner (Each-Way) - 5/1 with bet365 (5 places)
5:02pm Worcester - Harry's Hope
Dan Skelton's Muskerry Rock is likely to be all the rage having been raised just 5lbs for his fluent Newton Abbot success over 3m2f last time, his first chase start for the yard. A winner of a Novice Hunter Chase - and dual scorer between the flags - in his native Ireland, he looks the one to beat, but I am going to take a chance on the mare HARRY'S HOPE.
Ben Pauling has gone two months without a winner – only fourteen runners in the period – and this inmate has underperformed in both starts since returning from a 235-day absence back in June. She has dropped to a mark 1lb below when last successful and the hope is that her two runs in the summer will have her spot on for what is a decent mark. Note Pauling has five runners on the night; it won't be long before he is back in the winners' enclosure.
The selection receives 9lbs from the likely favourite, and the hope is that Ben Jones does not get too far back on the mare.
Recommendation: Harry's Hope - 7/1 with bet365
*Betting odds correct at the time of publication. All odds are subject to changes.
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