Charlie McCann’s Tips
Charlie heads to Wetherby on Boxing Day for his best bet of the day
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Latest Profit & Loss Figures
A small profit of +£1.10 for the week ending Sunday, 21 December, although we started Christmas week with two winning selections (11/2 & 5/1) on Monday, 22 December, and the hope is that we can build on that and have a successful Christmas and New Year with some fantastic racing over the period.
Latest Profit & Loss for the week ending Sunday, 21 December 2025
- Cumulative profit since August 1, 2022: +£1,352.53
- Week ending Sunday, 21 December: +£1.10
- December 2025 to date: +£19.92
- Year 2025 to date: +£275.05
- 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 - Boxing Day
12:45pm Kempton - Barlovento (Each-Way)
Secret Des Dieux gave every indication he would be well served by an additional half mile when third to the progressive Mambonumberfive at Newbury last time, and the form has been franked by the runner-up Mighty Bandit, who went one better back at the Berkshire track next time.
Noble Park will head the betting on the back of his two fluent chase successes, and his 24l thrashing of Vanderpoel last month looks good considering the latter's Ascot win for Ben Pauling on Friday. I'm not convinced that Vanderpoel gave his running at Lingfield, however, and Noble Park jumped left – markedly at times - at Hereford on his penultimate start.
He was 5/2 when I last saw prices for the race, and I thought that was short enough given this is a deep and competitive handicap.
Queensbury Boy and Jasmine Bliss certainly enter calculations. However, the hope is that Sean Bowen does not give BARLOVENTO (Each-Way) too much to do on a track which favours those who like to race prominently, especially on ground that is likely to be nearer good than good to soft come post time.
Barlovento came from last to lead at the last at Exeter on his chase/seasonal debut but was run out of it close home by U Cant Be Serious, who reopposes on 7lbs worse terms for the half a length he had in hand at Exeter. Barlovento has been nudged up 4lbs in the weights, but he jumped – although there were only eleven fences due to "low sun" – and travelled well last time, and the hope is that he is a bit sharper with that run under his belt.
Recommendation: Barlovento (Each-Way) - 6/1 with bet365 (3 places)
1:20pm Kempton - Wendigo
Thomas Mor is unbeaten going right-handed and looked ready for a return to 3m when scoring at Ascot on chase debut. Salver has never struck me as a Grade 1 chaser in waiting, and this looks like a match between Kitzbuhel and WENDIGO, with preference for the latter.
Kitzbuhel won the 2m3f+ Beginners Chase at Punchestown last month, which Ballyburn (2024) and Gaelic Warrior (2023) landed, and I thought the grey should have won the 2m5f+ hurdle at Sandown back in the spring. However, he did finish behind Blueking d'Oroux and Salver. He can reverse the form with the step up to 3m considered a plus.
He reminds me of stablemate Il Etait Temps in that he looks a bit of a terrier, but Wendigo will surely improve for the step up to 3m. I will be disappointed if he doesn't run a big race for Jamie Snowden, whose string, like Ben Pauling's, has been more consistent this term than is often the case.
The form of Wendigo's Grade 2 win at Newbury was let down by Pauling's No Question Asked at Ascot on Friday. However, the latter is better than that, and I loved the way Wendigo battled all the way to the line on ground similar to what he will encounter this afternoon.
He was beaten 8l in the Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham back in March when he would have gone even closer had he not met trouble in running two out when beginning to make his challenge. My one concern is that he has only raced right-handed once before, when he edged slightly left at his obstacles when landing a moderate Ludlow hurdle. He looks a thorough stayer, and the excellent Gavin Sheehan will not want the race to develop into a sprint from three out.
Recommendation: Wendigo - 5/2 with Coral
Like everyone else, I'm looking forward to seeing Sir Gino in the Christmas Hurdle and will be disappointed if he cannot give 7lbs to the Champion Hurdler Golden Ace.
In recent years, the King George has been a light of its former glories, but in the year that Kempton's future as a racecourse hangs in the balance, this is as good a renewal as I can remember. The betting suggests it is a three-runner race between Gaelic Warrior, Fact To File and Jango Baie, but last year's 1-2 Banbridge and Il Est Francais are back for more, while Djelo and The Jukebox Man add more lustre to what is likely to be a race for the ages. It is that good.
Good luck if you are playing – having changed my mind three times in the last week, my conclusion is that it will be a no-bet race, but one that could easily be the race of the season.
12:30pm Aintree - Heltenham
All five who go to post for the 2m4f+ handicap chase hold realistic claims. However, I hope to see HELTENHAM build on what was an eye-catching Newbury run last time when given far too much to do by Harry Skelton behind Twinjets, who is finally fulfilling the promise he showed as a novice hurdler.
Heltenham remains 2lbs above his highest winning mark, but he has been slowly coming to hand this term and should have the race run to suit with likely market leader the locally owned hat-trick seeking Josh The Bosh sure to set a decent gallop.
The top-weight Minella Drama is 2lbs below his win in last year's Old Roan Chase and ran a terrific race in the corresponding race back in October. He will enjoy the dry ground, while Prairie Wolf may need softer ground. Inedit Star remains a maiden after nine runs over fences, but the well handicapped grey is considered the chief threat to the Skelton runner.
Recommendation: Heltenham - 9/4 with bet365
2:15pm Aintree - Snowy Evening (Each-Way)
Fortunate Man won the corresponding 3m1f handicap chase twelve months ago from a 4lbs lower mark and has every chance of doubling up with the O'Neill stable in good form since their sabbatical last month, when they shut up shop for a brief time.
There are no prices at the time of writing, but I would expect to see SNOWY EVENING (Each-Way) as the outsider of the whole field, given he pulled up on his first start for 647 days at Doncaster last month.
That does not tell the whole story, however, as the selection pulled like a train on ground, arguably, softer than ideal over that 3m2f trip, yet was going best four out before he fell into a hole in the last quarter of a mile.
He has dropped 2lbs in the handicap, and the hope is that he is more amenable to restraint with that run under his belt. The better ground will suit; his stable is in excellent form, and he has been given 27 days to get over his Doncaster exertions. Yes, he could bounce, but I am prepared to take a chance, and he gets the ew vote.
Recommendation: Snowy Evening (Each-Way) - 12/1 with bet365 (3 places)
12:27pm Wetherby - Athair Mor (Nap)
Florita is likely to be all the rage for the 2m3f+ on the back of her Market Rasen success, for which she has been given a 9lbs rise. I didn't think that was a strong race, and I am sweet on the chance of ATHAIR MOR (Nap) despite his own 3lbs hike in the weights for finishing runner-up over course and distance last time.
The selection was trained by James Ewart, and he looked sure to break his duck for his new yard when going 2l clear at the last – ears pricked – before getting mugged close home by a 22/1 outsider, with the third 12l further back.
Ryan Mania is likely to leave his challenge to the last minute, given he was coming back at The Jad Factor once beaten a neck, and his previous run when second to Fat Harry is decent form for the grade.
Recommendation: Athair Mor (Nap) - 7/4 with bet365
12:53pm Wincanton - Clotilda
Blacksamsenorita jumped left when scoring at Uttoxeter on her chase debut from a 5lbs lower mark, and she looks the one to beat in the 2m3f+ mares' handicap chase, having finished in the first two in her last five starts for the Tizzard yard.
The vote goes to the Nicholls-trained four-year-old CLOTILDA, who receives a valuable 8lb weight-for-age allowance against her elders. The filly finished in the frame in two of her three chase starts in her native France and jumped well when runner-up at Exeter, beaten a length on her British chase debut.
They only jumped eleven fences due to low sun at Exeter, and she has been raised 2lbs for the run, but Freddie Keighley takes off a valuable 7lbs, and she can prevent Martin Keighley's Another Day Out from following up last year's success in the corresponding race from a 2lbs higher mark.
Recommendation: Clotilda - 11/4 with bet365
2:22pm Market Rasen - Hawkseye View
HAWKSEYE VIEW is a seventeen-race maiden – did win between the flags – but has been knocking on the door in recent starts over fences, including when second to an unexposed sort from a 2lbs lower mark over course and distance last time.
His jumping had been his weakness in the past, but it has improved in recent starts, and his inform yard fit him with cheekpieces for the first time this afternoon. Danny McMenamin was in the plate here last time, and he keeps the ride this afternoon.
Alltalknoaction held every chance when coming down two out here last time, and he looks the chief threat having been left on the same mark. That was just his second start over fences, and he is open to significant improvement.
Recommendation: Hawkseye View - 4/1 with bet365
2:57pm Market Rasen - The Big Breac
I hope it's a good day for the Smith/Parkinson yard as THE BIG BREAC is taken to land the Lincolnshire National over a trip just shy of 3m4f.
The selection may not have got home when third over 3m6f at Newcastle behind Welsh National hope Dom Of Mary, but ran an excellent race – beaten less than five lengths – in third and has been left on the same mark. With Konfusion a short-priced favourite in the Roland Meyrick at Wetherby, this is a big day for the yard.
Red Delta did us a favour at Sedgefield earlier in the season, but he must give 10lbs to the selection, and that might be beyond him, although one of these regional Nationals should come his way this term or next.
Recommendation: The Big Breac - 11/4 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 June
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.
Merry Monty (Seven-year-old trained by Chris Down)
Merry Monty looked the type to improve for the switch to fences, and he shaped with considerable promise on his chase debut at Exeter over 2m 3f on New Year’s Day, giving every indication that he would improve again when stepped up in trip.
The gelding showed his first form when runner up - also at Exeter - on his penultimate start over timber when he jumped his hurdles as if he had been previously schooled over fences. He is likely to be nudged up the weights from his mark of eighty, but he would have won at Exeter granted another twenty yards, and I will be disappointed if he isn’t bordering on three figures by the end of the season.
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.
Diamond Ri (Four-year-old trained by Joe Tizzard)
Diamond Ri tanked through a Warwick Bumper on his racecourse debut to score by a long-looking thirteen lengths. The winning time was five-and-a-half seconds than the first division half an hour later.
The Tizzard yard does not have too many Bumper winners, but the yard can dare to dream over the summer that they have something to go to war with as a novice hurdler next term. His win came on soft ground, and his action and breeding suggest plenty of cut will suit going forward. Not one for the short term, but one for next season.
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 Twitter for more racing insight.
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