Charlie McCann’s Tips
Charlie heads to Newton Abbot on Wednesday for his best bet
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Latest Profit & Loss Figures
Week ending Sunday, 3 May – four winning days and one level day on Saturday - produced a small profit of +£4.20, first winning week in four, although we ended April 2026 with a small loss of -£0.75 after a disappointing month.
Latest Profit & Loss for the week ending Sunday, 3 May 2026
- Cumulative profit since August 1, 2022: +£1,548.32
- Week ending Sunday, 3 May: +£4.20
- May 2026 to date: +£3.05
- April 2026 ended: +£0.75
- Year 2026 to date: +£158.61
- 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 - Wednesday, 6 May
It was an advantage to be on the pace on the lightning-quick ground at Newmarket last weekend, and that is often the case at Chester, although they often go too quick to get on the lead on the Roodeye.
The track had, as of Tuesday morning, 10.4mm of rain in the last four days, and showers are forecast throughout the three-day meeting, although nothing significant.
The winners of the opening Lily Agnes have come out of stalls 1-6-1-5-1-3-4-3-5 in the last decade (no meeting during Covid), and the draw will play a huge part in the result of the races, especially on the opening day.
2:05pm Chester - City House (Each-Way)
Snow Master (7) is having his first start for Andrew Balding, who has such a good record at the track. A winner of his first two starts for Tom Dascombe - separated by over twelve months – he disappointed in two subsequent starts over a mile – showed lots of pace - but the drop back to a mile will suit, the yard is in excellent form, and Oisin Murphy has ridden him in the past.
He wore a hood last time, but the aid is dispensed with for his stable debut. He is short enough in the betting at 5/2, with his draw a slight concern, but he is lightly raced, has his optimum conditions, and he will be difficult to beat if he gets on or near the lead.
I have already had a bet on the race, given I was surprised to see Irish raider CITY HOUSE (Each-Way) (4) priced at 33/1 when prices came out, given he was a dual winner on turf in Bahrain when trained by George Scott and returned to Britain last year rated 105. Note there was plenty of 33s available on Monday but only Ladbrokes/Corals and BetVictor at the time of writing.
He has yet to fire since joining Ado McGuinness but has dropped to a mark of ninety-three, and he did not get the best of runs at Naas last time over six furlongs, giving every impression he would appreciate today's extra distance.
It is possible that he doesn't have the early pace to take advantage of his draw, but at 33/1, I was prepared to take a chance.
Percy's Lad won the corresponding race two years ago from stall thirteen from a 5lbs higher mark two years ago and will have been laid out for the race by connections. Partisan Hero finished second in the race last year but is 12lbs higher this afternoon. He has the plum draw in one, and his record under Rossa Ryan reads 3-1-2-1.
God Of War finished runner-up in the three-year-old handicap on the card twelve months ago and is another to consider in a wide-open contest, but City House looked overpriced and gets the each-way vote, although he must show some early speed from stall four or he will be too far back.
Recommendation: City House (Each-Way) - 33/1 with BetVictor (4 places)
I was hugely impressed by I'm The One at Newbury on her racecourse debut, but all five runners are last time out winners in the Cheshire Oaks, and she is short enough in the betting at 8/13.
3:05pm Chester - Water To Wine
I have backed WATER TO WINE in the Chester Vase in receipt of 4lbs from Aidan O'Brien's Benvenuto Cellini, last seen finishing third in the Group 1 Futurity Stakes on heavy ground at Doncaster over a mile back in October.
After a quiet spell with his three-year-olds, O'Brien saddled the 2000 Guineas runner-up, and 1000 Guineas winner, and it may appear folly to take on the Ballydoyle representative with the yard having won the corresponding race no fewer than eleven times, including with subsequent Derby winner Lambourn in 2025. Benvenuto Cellini is not guaranteed to get 12f on breeding, but he is currently just 6/1 for Epsom next month, and connections don't appear to have any stamina reservations.
Water To Wine is by Kingman, but out of a French 12f winner and looked a colt of serious potential when scoring at Newbury on debut, interestingly under Ryan Moore, who rides the favourite today, although this is a big step up in grade.
John Gosden suggested he was a possible King Edward VII type rather than a classic contender post-race at Newbury, but he holds a Derby entry, and this will tell us so much more. With Moore and William Buick booked for their retained yards, James Doyle takes over in the plate, although since the 48-hour declarations were published, Oisin Murphy has become available with Royal Scimitar a non-runner.
The 5/2 for the selection has gone, but the 9/4 is still fair, although I appreciate you are backing potential over the form book. I thought he looked like a future star at Newbury.
Recommendation: Water To Wine - 9/4 with Ladbrokes
3:40pm Chester - Alaminos
Two non-runners in the 6f handicap – only one with widedrawitis – but I have had a rare bet in a sprint handicap given I vowed to back ALAMINOS next time out after his second at Pontefract from a 3lbs lower mark.
The selection was beaten a neck at Ponte but granted a clear run, would have been a comfortable winner, and I have handicapped him as a length winner. After just three career starts, the three-year-old son of Pinatubo is open to significant improvement, and Kevin Stott, who has ridden the selection for all three starts, keeps the ride. The colt has an excellent draw in stall four, and I would be surprised if he were not rated 90+ by the end of the season.
The filly Ruby's Angel won a valuable handicap at the Ebor meeting back in August, and she will be fully primed for her reappearance by Hugo Palmer. She has the plum draw in stall one, but the hope is that the selection can get into an advantageous position from gate four and pounce fast and late for Kevin Ryan, who saddled the winner of the corresponding race twelve months ago.
Recommendation: Alaminos - 9/4 with bet365
2:45pm Newton Abbot - Dyno Dave (Nap)
DYNO DAVE (Nap) had jumped superbly until he took off a stride too soon at Exeter six out when still going very well. It was a heavy fall, and the hope is that it does not affect his confidence as he switches to a left-hand track for the first time over fences.
He has now failed to complete in two of his five chase starts, but this good ground clearly suits him, and he receives weight from his four rivals. He edged left at his obstacles – may have mirrored the leader who did the same – and this anti-clockwise track should suit.
Dan Skelton's Storminhome is very well handicapped, but he never stayed three miles for Ben Pauling, and I was surprised to see him fight back once headed when beaten a short head in first-time blinkers at Southwell over 3m in March. The winner has been beaten since and was a late non-runner at Hereford yesterday. Storminhome has been raised 2lbs since Southwell and will win if he stays, but that is a big IF over this near three-and-a-quarter mile trip.
Recommendation: Dyno Dave (Nap) - 5/2 with bet365
*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.
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