Charlie McCann’s Tips
Charlie heads to Doncaster on Saturday with his strongest fancy of the day
Enjoy daily tips and his Nap of the Day from our resident expert, Charlie McCann.
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Latest Profit & Loss Figures
Four winning days midweek but a losing weekend produced a small profit of +£2.82 to a £1 level stake for the week ending Sunday, 7 December.
Latest Profit & Loss for the week ending Sunday, 7 December 2025
- Cumulative profit since August 1, 2022: +£1,335.43
- Week ending Sunday, 7 December: +£2.82
- December 2025 to date: +£2.82
- Year 2025 to date: +£257.95
- 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 - Saturday, 13 December
12:40pm Cheltenham - Zertakt
Ben Jones is at Doncaster, so David Bass gets the plum ride on The Jukebox Kid, who jumped superbly when making a winning chase debut at Carlisle on chase debut for Ben Pauling.
The six-year-old has only had three starts under rules, winning two as well as his sole point-to-point, after which he was sold for £120,000. He has been raised 9lbs for his 2m 5f Carlisle success, but is the one to beat, and the runner-up – Beau Geste – finished in the same position next time from a 2lbs higher mark.
Pauling has some excellent novice chasers this term, and The Jukebox Kid – a half-brother to four winners – could easily make up into something better than a handicapper going forward. His point win was gained on heavy ground over three miles, so this step up to 3m1f+ should not be a problem. He is short enough in the betting at 2/1, though, and ZERTAKT gets the vote in receipt of 15lbs from the market leader.
Zertakt is 2lbs higher than when second in a 3m6f handicap chase at Newcastle on his reappearance, but he should have won, given Ned Fox allowed the horse to slow dramatically going into the last and lost all momentum. Charlie Deutsch takes over in the saddle for Venetia Williams, and I would not want conditions to dry out too much. Genuine good to soft ground or slower would be ideal.
Recommendation: Zertakt - 9/2 with Unibet
1:15pm Cheltenham - Party Vibes & Theonewedreamof
She Is For Me Boys is on a four-timer and is taken to confirm Kempton chase form with the third recent Bangor-on-Dee winner, It’s Easy, and runner-up Ilovethenightlife, who is blinkered for the first time, having run poorly behind It’s Easy in north Wales when he jumped out to his right.
My two against the field are PARTY VIBES and THEONEWEDREAMOF, and I have backed both.
Party Vibes has had a pipe opener over hurdles when third – but beaten 33l – to Lud’or at Bangor. The winner has since run a terrific race from a 13lbs higher mark at Newbury, but the selection is a different proposition over fences, and she can improve with that run under her belt. Her four career victories have all been gained going right-handed, which tempers confidence a bit, although she has run well in defeat on an anticlockwise track.
Theonewedreamof has been raised 5lbs since winning at Exeter over 3m last time, and this drop back to this near 2m5f is a slight concern, but she has looked an improved performer since joining Dan Skelton, although she was in the care of the excellent Gavin Cromwell previously, winning twice over the larger obstacles.
Recommendations: Party Vibes - 16/1 with bet365 & Theonewedreamof - 11/2 with bet365
1:50pm Cheltenham - Colonel Harry & Hoe Joly Smoke
Jagwar was a late defection on account of the ground - officially soft - in the Paddy Power last month, and the suggestion is conditions are likely to be similar for the December Gold Cup, which puts owner JP McManus in a difficult position. I think they have got to get his season up and running, and if he is a prospective Ryanair candidate – as his stable believes he is – then he must be able to go on what will be ground no quicker than good to soft.
My two against the field are COLONEL HARRY and HOE JOLY SMOKE, and have split stakes between the pair.
I wasn’t convinced that Colonel Harry was going too well in the Grand Sefton at Aintree last month, but Gavin Sheehan took him wide going to two out, and he took off. He is 4lbs higher in the weights this afternoon and has disappointed in two previous starts at the track, but he was still cantering when coming down four out over today’s course and distance at New Year from a 2lbs lower mark.
The New course places more emphasis on stamina than the Old course, which is where Holy Joe Smoke finished third in the Paddy Power, and he is 5lbs better off with Vicenzo this afternoon for less than 3l, given the latter’s jockey, Dylan Johnston, has since lost his 3lbs claim. Harry Skelton takes over in the saddle on the selection – replacing Kielan Woods – and he looks sure to run another big race.
Winner of the Paddy Power stablemate Panic Attack franked the form when landing the Coral Cup a fortnight ago, and Hoe Joly Smoke carries just 10st 5lbs.
Recommendations: Colonel Harry - 8/1 with bet365 & Hoe Joly Smoke - 5/1 with Coral
12:55pm Doncaster - Spadestep (Nap)
I hope there is not too much rain on Friday morning at Doncaster, as drying ground would certainly suit SPADESTEP (Nap), who was very well backed when runner-up at Aintree on chase debut at the end of October.
The selection has been raised 2lbs for the run, and the winner, Jordans Cross, who runs in the 12:55pm, would have followed up had he not come down at the last at Cheltenham at the Paddy Power meeting from a 6lbs higher mark. Granted, good to soft ground, the six-year-old would have been something to bet on with Patrick Wadge taking over in the plate with Derek Fox at Cheltenham for Conman John in the Grade 2 Albert Bartlett trial.
Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore fit their point and novice hurdle winner with a first-time tongue-tie, and I will be disappointed if he does not run a big race, although genuine soft ground would be a concern.
Recommendation: Spadestep (Nap)
*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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