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Latest Profit & Loss Figures
Five winning days produced a healthy profit of +£11.50 for the week ending Sunday, 5 April.
March 2026 ended with a significant profit of +£50.17.
We threw a couple of points away on Saturday with a poor each-way recommendation and bumped into a well-backed Christian Williams gamble at Bangor-on-Dee midweek when we had a double-figure priced second. That said, another good week.
Latest Profit & Loss for the week ending Sunday, 5 April, 2026
- Cumulative profit since August 1, 2022: +£1,557.92
- Week ending Sunday, 5 April: +£10.37
- April 2026 to date: +£11.40
- March 2026 ended: +£50.17
- Year 2026 to date: +£167.71
- Year 2025 ended: +£312.73
- Year 2024 ended: +£364.90
- Year 2023 ended: +£469.27
- Period 1/8/22-31/12/22 ended: +£243.31
(All figures to a £1 level stake)
Charlie McCann’s Tips - Friday, 10 April
1:45pm Aintree - Indeevar Bleu & Swindon Village (Each-Way)
There is only 14lbs in the handicap between the twenty-two runners in the opening 2m4f handicap hurdle, and Olly Murphy saddles five, including market leader INDEEVAR BLEU, who has had a wind operation since bolting up over course and distance on Boxing Day from a 9lbs lower mark. They only jumped seven hurdles due to the low sun on that occasion, but he could hardly have been more impressive.
I was disappointed he did not win the 2m Gerry Feilden at Newbury back in November, but he bumped into one in the subsequent William Hill Hurdle winner Tutti Quanti. His course and distance success was his first run over today's two-and-a-half-mile trip, and he is the choice of Sean Bowen. He will make a terrific chaser next season, but this, one would imagine, has long been the target.
Wellington Arch won the corresponding race from a stone lower mark last season, but I would be surprised if he were able to follow up as this looks an ultra-competitive heat.
I have backed Indeevar Bleu, but I cannot let SWINDON VILLAGE (Each-Way) go unbacked at 16/1 (six places with Paddy Power, others five places) for Charlie Longsdon with Johnny Burke taking over from David Bass for the first time.
Swindon Village raced on the lead with the short-priced Willie Mullins-trained favourite Doctor Steinberg in the Grade 1 3m Albert Bartlett Nov Hurdle at Cheltenham last month and was beaten more than fifty lengths. That doesn't tell the whole story, however, as the grey was still bang there two out and do note Doctor Steinberg had long posted the white flag when pulled up by Paul Townend.
It is possible that Cheltenham may have left its exertions on the each-way selection, and the change of jockey suggests connections weren't overly enamoured with the fractions set by Bass. That said, he jumped and travelled like a smart type, and his record over today's intermediate trip this term reads 3-1-1.
He won't get a soft lead, and I wonder if connections will actually change tactics given the grey was held up when making a winning rules debut in a Ffos Las Bumper. This will be the fastest ground he has encountered, but the Aintree executive will continue to water throughout the meeting. He merits each-way support.
Recommendations: Indeevar Bleu - 9/2 with bet365 & Swindon Village (Each-Way) - 16/1 with Paddy Power (6 places)
2:20pm Aintree - Wendigo (Each-Way) (Nap)
WENDIGO (Each-Way) (Nap) was never going the gallop in the Grade 1 Brown Advisory Novice Chase but was staying on dourly when coming down at the last. He would have finished just behind Salver had he stayed upright at Cheltenham, but I would be disappointed if he did not beat the market leader, given that he did finish ahead of the Moore horse in the Grade 1 Kauto Star at Kempton on Boxing Day.
I have not given up on Jamie Snowden's seven-year-old, who will be ridden by Johnny Burke, with regular pilot Gavin Sheehan still suspended, having been given 14 days for his winning ride on the yard's Johnny's Jury in the Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham.
Circumstances have dictated that I am writing this on Wednesday afternoon, and I would love to know the times from Thursday's racing, but I will keep the faith in the seven-year-old who faces nothing of the calibre of Kitzbuhel or Final Demand this afternoon.
Note William Hill are betting ¼ odds first three in this eight-runner race. Granted all eight stand their ground, the 4/1 is fair.
Recommendation: Wendigo (Each-Way) (Nap) - 4/1 with William Hill (3 places)
2:55pm Aintree - Sinnatra (w/o Sober Glory)
I am still looking for Mydaddypaddy in the declarations, who I believe has been put away for the season, despite this Grade 1 Novice Hurdle looking the ideal end-of-season target for the Supreme third at Cheltenham last month.
I was looking forward to the rematch with Sober Glory, who finished a nose in front of Mydaddypaddy behind the winner Old Park Star in the Festival curtain raiser, but I thought the Skelton runner would reverse the form on this track. Yes, I know he got beaten over course and distance on Boxing Day, but that was a glorified flat race due to the low sun. In his absence, Skelton runs SINNATRA, ironically in the same colours as Kabral Du Mathan, who should have run in yesterday's Aintree Hurdle but is waiting for Sandown, I am told.
Sober Glory should win, but Sinnatra ran a terrific race when fifth in the County Hurdle – gambled into 9/2 – and this track should suit. The 5/2 in the market without Sober Glory on Wednesday afternoon looked fair, given I do think he will relish the track and trip, although he may struggle to get past the odds-on favourite.
The Irish bombed out in the Supreme, allowing Baron Noir to finish fourth, but he was six lengths behind the third horse, and I am of the opinion that something had to finish fourth. His previous form suggests he is a solid 130-rated hurdler, and I am not convinced I'd be backing him in a handicap off his current mark of 146.
Baron Noir deserves to be favourite in the market without Sober Glory, but I thought Evens was short enough and I do not think there will be much between him and Sinnatra especially if the first-time hood ekes out a bit of improvement on the latter.
Recommendation: Sinnatra (w/o Sober Glory) - 5/2 with bet365
Seven potential front-runners in the Melling Chase and I would bet 3/1 who leads over the first fence. I wonder if one of the jockeys decides to change tactics. It is likely to be a furious gallop and a tricky puzzle.
4:05pm Aintree - Will The Wise (Each-Way) & Ile Atlantique (Each-Way)
A terrific renewal of the Topham Trophy.
Il Est Francais is still only eight but should relish the ground, and he has had a wind procedure since his last start. He has a history of going well fresh, and his second to Banbridge in the 2024 King George, or his fabulous Kauto Star win the previous year, would give him every chance even off a mark of 160. I can see him running well for a long way, but you have to go back to that King George run for his last worthwhile form over fences.
Peaky Boy ran very well for a long way in the Plate, but he made a shuddering mistake four out when going well. He has never quite fulfilled his early potential, and his jumping is a concern given he fell on his seasonal reappearance, but 40/1 looks too high a price.
In the end, my two against the field are ILE ATLANTIQUE (Each-Way) and WILL THE WISE (Each-Way). The latter was a recommendation in the Plate at the Cheltenham Festival and ran a tremendous race in second. He was no match for handicap snip Madara, but he meets that rival on 8lbs better terms for the seven-and-a-half lengths he was behind the selection last month. Indeed, if you consider the 3lbs claim of Conor Stone-Walsh, then Gavin Cromwell's charge is 11lbs better off. He is claimer ridden as Festival partner Keith Donoghue's lowest riding weight is 11st.
I didn't think Will The Wise jumped as well as he can at Cheltenham and jumped violently right at the first. He can't take such luxuries in this field, but if he gets into a nice jumping rhythm, he looks sure to win well. He doesn't quite get three miles, and this extended 2m5f is ideal. His jumping is his primary asset, and I wonder if the long run from the last fence will suit, but I remain convinced that he is a sell handicapped novice.
There has been no winning favourite in the Topham in the last decade, despite Willie Mullins saddling three of the last six winners, and last year's victor, Gentleman De Mee, is only 3lbs higher twelve months on. This looks like a stronger race, however, and Ile Atlantique, although not the most consistent, looks to have been laid out for the race by his shrewd connections.
A Grade 2 winner over fences, the eight-year-old ran well behind subsequent Ryanair winner Heart Wood at Tramore on New Year's Day when not exactly knocked about. Paul Townend has been in the plate for three of his four career wins, and he is back in the plate for the first time since last February.
Recommendations: Will The Wise (Each-Way) - 9/1 with William Hill (5 places) & Ile Atlantique (Each-Way) - 9/1 with Unibet (6 places)
5:15pm Aintree - Harry Lowes & Pourqoui Pas Papa
There has been no winning favourite in the concluding 2m handicap hurdle for amateur and conditional jockeys in the last decade, with the average starting price almost 17/1.
It is not a great stat given my two against the field have been well found in the market, but I will be disappointed if HARRY LOWES and the juvenile POURQUOI PAS PAPA do not run big races.
Harry Lowes was well backed at Windsor in a valuable race on handicap debut at their Winter Million meeting, but Harry Skelton didn't get the clearest of runs on the McManus-owned runner, and he got involved in an unsavoury spat with Sean Bowen, who did nothing wrong, as the pair were pulling up.
That Windsor run was over 2m4f – note he was balloted out of the 2m4f handicap here yesterday – but he coped well enough with the drop back to the minimum trip when scoring at Bangor-On-Dee from a 3lbs lower mark last time. They are likely to go very quick, which should suit Harry Lowes, and Skelton's conditional Tristan Durrell, who takes the ride, has had a fantastic season.
Pourquoi Pas Papa jumped and travelled well when fourth in the Fred Winter at last month's Festival from a 1lb lower mark. Olive Nicholls – daughter of the trainer – takes the ride and four year-olds receive 8lbs weight-for-age from than their elders.
The last juvenile to win the race was Gordon Elliot's Chief Justice in 2019, but I liked the way the selection jumped and travelled at the Festival, and he would have gone even closer had he got a clearer run off the final bend.
Recommendations: Harry Lowes - 9/2 with bet365 & Pourqoui Pas Papa - 10/1 with Unibet
*Betting odds correct at the time of publication. All odds are subject to changes.
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Charlie McCann’s Horses to Follow
Last updated, Monday, 30 March
Anniversary (Four-year-old trained by Ralph Beckett)
Blindedbythelights has form figures since winning at Newbury in June 2023 of 2-2-4-2-2-2-2, and his handicap mark has risen from sixty-eight to a mark in the early nineties, given that he finished second at Kempton from a mark of eighty-eight in the Queen’s Prize at the end of March.
His profile hardly strikes you as being one to have onside going forward, but he is lightly raced for one of his age, and I have always thought there was more to come from the flashy gelding.
He was very well supported at Kempton, however, whereas Anniversary was weak in the market with blinkers reapplied by Ralph Beckett, and the jury is still out as to whether he truly stays two miles.
The stable’s inmates ran well in defeat on the opening weekend of the turf season, and this four-year-old has not won since beating the subsequent Goodwood Cup/St Leger winner Scandinavia at Newmarket on his racecourse debut as a juvenile.
There is a 1m6f handicap at Newmarket on the Sunday of the Guineas weekend at the beginning of May and that would strike me as a suitable target for the gelded son of Sea The Moon who may have races such as the Copper Horse Stakes at Royal Ascot as a mid-summer target although he would have to win to get into the race as the bottom weight was rated ninety-five last year.
At the time of writing, Anniversary is rated ninety-one, but you would imagine he will be eased at least 1lb for his Kempton run. He will need to win to sneak into the bottom of the handicap if the Royal meeting is a realistic target.
Blue Bolt (Three-year-old filly trained by Andrew Balding)
Blue Bolt was beaten more than 5L on her racecourse debut over 7f at Southwell on debut but she has looked a different proposition on turf, with that experience under her belt, winning both starts over a mile at Windsor and Newbury.
Her latest success in a valuable Novice under Colin Keane suggested she was ready for a step up in grade and she holds an entry in the listed Coral Distaff on Eclipse Day at Sandown.
Her Group 1 entry Matron Stakes at Leopardstown in September suggests connections are taking it slowly slowly with this daughter of Blue Point - no entry in next week’s Falmouth Stakes - but I am convinced she is at least up to listed level.
Keane was jockey up on the filly as soon as the entries were announced and both turf wins have been gained on good or faster ground. There is a possibility of a shower on Wednesday morning, but the forecast is set fair for the rest of the week.
Gunship (Three-year-old trained by James Ferguson)
Gunship was not guaranteed on breeding to appreciate the step up to a mile-and-a-half at Royal Ascot and so it proved with the dual tapeta winner fading from two out in the King George V Stakes.
It is possible that the Sea The Stars colt will always be a better horse on the all-weather, but he travelled as well as anything save winner Merchant at the Royal meeting. We will know more about his long-term prospects after his next start which is likely to be at Newmarket on the Friday of their July Cup meeting.
That bet365 sponsored contest is one of the hottest three-year-old 10f handicaps of the season and he needs ten to come out to be guaranteed a run, but he remains a colt with plenty more to come, and his next start should tell us whether his best days lie solely on an artificial surface.
The form of his previous three quarters of a length defeat of War Hawk at Newmarket has been franked by the runner up who has since won at Chester and Epsom. He would meet Gunship on 6lbs worse terms if they both faced the starter on the July course.
Midnight Tango (Two-year-old trained by Ed Walker)
Midnight Tango really ought to have won the listed Empress Stakes at Newmarket (July) at the end of June when Kieran Shoemark tried to come from last to first on the wrong side of the track. She passed six of her seven rivals in the last couple of furlongs, and I wonder if the jockey will consider it one that got away.
She has only got a modest Hamilton success to her name, but she is held in some regard by Ed Walker, and she is up to at least listed class. It would be no surprise if she landed a Group race between now and the end of the season with something like the Lowther at York’s Ebor meeting under consideration.
Charles Darwin (Two-year-old trained by Aidan O’Brien)
The “lads” at Ballydoyle nominated Albert Einstein as their Coventry horse over 6f at Royal Ascot after making it two out of two in the Marble Stakes at the Curragh. That left Charles Darwin as their Norfolk representative after his fluent Naas win at the minimum trip.
When Albert Einstein was a late defector ahead of the Coventry, connections gave Gstaad the green light to run on the opening day and left Charles Darwin in the Norfolk rather than “upgrade” him to the Coventry which is widely considered the premier juvenile race of the meeting.
Gstaad duly bolted up by 3l in the Coventry while Charles Darwin landed Thursday’s Norfolk by more than 2l hitting the line hard and giving every impression he would relish another furlong. Aidan O’Brien, it would appear, already has the three best juvenile colts in Europe and it will be fascinating to see how connections keep them apart.
If there is a batting order at present, you feel the yard consider 1) Albert Einstein 2) Charles Darwin and 3) Gstaad. Charles Darwin has the physique of a four-year-old let alone a two-year-old and a crack at the Group 1 Nunthorpe over 5f at York in August was muted given the weight-for-age allowance juveniles receive against their elders.
I would prefer the son of No Nay Never to step back up to six furlongs next time, but you get the impression that Albert Einstein will dictate and be campaigned as the yard’s number one until results say otherwise.
As a half-brother to the yard’s dual Group1 winning juvenile Blackbeard, Charles Darwin is not guaranteed to train on next term, but I am convinced he will win at the top table between now and the end of the season.
Aeronautic (Four-year-old trained by Joseph O’Brien)
The lightly- raced Aeronautic finished fifth in the 1m6f Copper Horse Stakes on the opening day of Royal Ascot for Joseph O’Brien who endured such a frustrating week.
The stable had four winners in Ireland on Saturday, and most of their Ascot team ran terrific races in defeat with six finishing in the first four of their respective races.
Aeronautic was no match for French Master at Ascot but ran a cracking race on the quickest ground he has encountered to date. He was beaten less than 4l in the Copper Horse over that mile-and-three-quarter trip and I wonder if connections will consider dropping him back in distance at some time given how well he travelled on that occasion.
After just six career starts the son of Gleneagles has a big race in him between now and the end of the season. The Ebor and Melbourne Cup were races connections may have had in mind for the gelding had he won at Ascot, but I am still convinced there is a big pot to be had with the gelding this term and he won’t go up the weights for finishing fifth.
Classic Encounter (Three-year-old trained by George Boughey)
Classic Encounter was weak in the market, then backed near the off at Newcastle on his first start for George Boughey and belated seasonal reappearance.
He was squeezed out at the start of that hot Novice contest before making good late headway into a never nearer fifth over a mile.
That should have blown the cobwebs away, and I expect him to be more forcefully ridden next time. He will get further than a mile and looks the type to win a maiden/novice on turf in the short turn while he may be eased a couple of pounds from his mark of 82.
He is very much one to keep onside in the months ahead.
Charming Whisper (Three-year-old trained by Charlie McBride)
I appreciate you can go skint backing horses who have been unlucky, but I feel Charming Whisper should have won his last four races for Newmarket handler Charlie McBride.
A winner of two-mile handicaps from marks of 72 and 74 in June, the gelding has met trouble in-running from his last couple of starts over the Bunbury Mile and at Brighton - not convinced he was in love with the track - and I feel he is more than capable of defying his current rating of 80.
A stiff mile on good or faster ground are his optimum conditions, and he is one to keep on the right side of in the short term.
Ride The Thunder (Two-year-old trained by Roger Varian)
He cost 400,000 gns as a yearling and went into my tracker when recovering £1700 of his purchase price when finishing second in a Doncaster Novice to God Of War - had previous experience - on debut over seven furlongs.
I appreciate that the Varian yard lacks consistency, but I will be disappointed if this inmate does not go one better next time. The step up to a mile is likely to suit going forward, although 7f looks his trip in the short term.
Jagwar (Five-year-old trained by Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero)
Jagwar ran with the choke out at Uttoxeter in their competitive 2m 4f handicap hurdle last weekend and a blunder two out put paid to his chance. He was beaten 10L at the line, but he travelled like a well-handicapped horse for much of the race and the hope is that he will eventually cut out the jumping issues that have blunted his progression to this point. He was dropped 1lb to a mark of 118 by the handicapper after Uttoxeter.
Better ground should suit this spring and I wonder if he might be worth a try back at the minimum trip. The conditional jockeys’ event at Aintree might enter calculations at next month’s National meeting.
Frederick Daly (7lb Claimer)
It is rare to be as impressed with a jockey, especially one who arguably won by too far, having his first ride under rules. Still, I was blown away by the quiet style of amateur Daly, who rode Golden Shot to win the amateur riders’ event at Ffos Las on Monday for Sir Mark Prescott. As Ian Bishop might have said: “Frederick Daly - remember the name”.
The 16-year-old was as polished in his postrace interview with Sky Sports Racing as he was in the saddle, and he suggested that he would spend little time as an amateur and would soon be turning professional.
His 7lb claim is likely to prove very popular when that happens. However, you get the impression that his father, who I remember as a former assistant trainer in Newmarket, and Sir Mark Prescott will manage his progression diligently as he works through his claim.
It might be daft to draw such conclusions after just the one ride, and he never had to get serious on the 29L winner, but there was just something about his style that suggested he was no ordinary amateur jockey. I, for one, will be monitoring his progress and will take note to see if other trainers book the jockey for similar contests in the short term.
Royal Rhyme (Three-year-old trained by Karl Burke)
Goodwood was largely a disappointment, with the rain putting a dampener on proceedings on and off the track. The week was summed up when the last three races were abandoned on the Saturday as the rain returned in spades.
On the track, the highlights were the continued brilliance of Paddington in the Sussex Stakes on Wednesday, but he must play second fiddle to Royal Rhyme, who showed himself to be a Group horse when running away with what is invariably a competitive three-year-old handicap.
The handicapper has seen fit to raise him 13lbs to a mark of 108 for his six-and-a-half length romp, while his winning time was three seconds quicker than that clocked by Al Husn in the Group 1 Nassau Stakes later in the card. His record on soft ground reads played three won three, with those successes coming by an aggregate of 12 lengths.
He remains one to keep on side granted soft ground this autumn. His stablemate Triple Time, likely to reappear at Deauville on Sunday, did us a huge favour when landing the Queen Anne at Royal Ascot at 33/1. Royal Rhyme is currently the same price for the Champion Stakes with Ladbrokes and Coral at Newmarket in October. Granted soft ground, he certainly won’t be that price if he faces the starter.
About Charlie McCann
Seven years as talkSPORT racing correspondent/tipster who recently spent over a decade as Director Of PR/Communications for a couple of leading igaming operators.
Failed cricketer - I regularly bore people, myself included, with the story about how I caught Imran Khan when 12th Man for Lancashire v Sussex as a youth - former National League Basketball player - once scored 72 points in a game - and lifelong and long-suffering Everton supporter.
Many of my old friends - and I mean old - would tell you I was a better footballer than a cricketer - but cricket was my first love.
Horse racing has long been my passion - ironic as I’ll never pass the vet again as my sports injuries have come back to bite - with my specialism handicap chases over jumps and 1m+ handicaps on the level.
I have met many of the great and good in the game and consider myself to have been very fortunate. Please always bet within your means and never chase your losses.
Be Lucky.
You can follow Charlie McCann on X for more racing insight.
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