Charlie McCann’s Horse Racing Tips for Tuesday 17th January

The poor start to the New Year was overturned and how last week, and we finished the week ending Sunday 15/01 +£22.88 to a £1 level stake, and we are now +£14.15 for January 2023 and +£261.36 to a £1 stake since we began collating the figures on 1st August 2022.

The week’s highlights were an excellent Monday (+£13.87) and a 66.75/1 treble, with all three selections hitting the target on Friday. Sunday’s winning Nap – one of four during the week - Just Don’t Know was backed from 3/1- 7/2 in a place - to 4/5 (25p Rule 4), and I felt our other each-way selection (6/1) should have won – beaten a neck having lost four lengths at the start at Southwell.

Lowlights were few, but Camp Belan was a poor selection at Wetherby on Saturday, and I was kicking myself after one fence for not sticking with Haddex Des Obeaux in the Courage Cup at Warwick. Runner-up Galop De Chasse needs further than the minimum trip.

There is a precautionary inspection at Chepstow at 7.30 to see if today’s card can go ahead with frost rather than rain the concern.

2.30pm Chepstow - Bear Ghylls (Nap of the Day)

Trainer Anthony Honeyball ended a long losing run when Blackjack Magic scored at Exeter, and he saddles Gustavian in a fascinating 2m 3f+ handicap chase and he is beginning to look well treated, although he could hardly be described as a serial winner – winless in eight starts over the larger obstacles although placed second or third in six of those runs.

Point winner Prevaricate is having his first start for Venetia Williams, having won a moderate Maiden Hurdle at Leopardstown for Gordon Elliot back in March. He should improve for the switch to the larger obstacles but doesn’t look especially well treated on his chase/British debut.

BEAR GHYLLS has had two chase starts since returning from a 590-day lay-off at Carlisle back in the autumn. I thought the first was very promising and trainer Nicky Martin suggested he had “bounced” when disappointing at Uttoxeter three weeks later.

Martin has always held the 8-year-old in the highest regard – beaten just 12L by the real Bob Olinger in the Ballymore - and she has given the gelding the best part of two months to get over his latest exertions. There should be no excuses this afternoon, and he is 4lbs lower than when running so well in the Colin Parker Memorial.

Interne De Sivola only got as far as the first at Wincanton last time when the field dashed to the opening fence, and he came a cropper. Back up in distance, it will be interesting to see if he is ridden with more patience or whether they keep to the tactics of his two hurdle successes.

Charlie's Nap of the Day

2.30pm Chepstow

Bear Ghylls looks the one to beat under James Bowen

At 13/8 a £10 bet would return £26.25

Chepstow

January 17, 2023

2:30 pm GMT

3.00pm Chepstow - Alnadam

The form of Come On Gruff’s close third at Kempton over three miles has taken a few knocks, and he has been raised 2lbs for that run. He drops back to the distance of his Uttoxeter, and Leicester wins as a novice, however, and he is a worthy market leader in a race that is perhaps not as competitive as the numbers would suggest.

Both Gladiateur Allen and ALNADAM revert to timber, having been chasing in recent seasons, but the latter gets the each-way vote having his first run over hurdles in almost three years. The selection finished last of eleven on his seasonal reappearance over fences, but that was his first start in 225 days, and he can run from a mark 10lbs lower this afternoon. He turned ten at the beginning of the month and has never quite fulfilled his early promise over fences, but he is well treated on some of his old form and his excellent yard is in great form, and underfoot conditions are ideal.

PS. Hello - Excellent news that Lionel Richie is playing Chepstow this summer

Charlie's Tip

3.00pm Chepstow

Alnadam looks a big price switching back to hurdles

At 17/2 a £10 bet would return £95

Chepstow

January 17, 2023

3:00 pm GMT

4.10pm Chepstow - Barrier Peaks

Tom Scudamore landed the nap for us on Sunday, and I hope to see BARRIER PEAKS follow up last week’s Exeter success when stepped up in distance beyond the minimum trip for the first time. He had previously hinted at a change of fortune when third at Ffos Las over two miles fitted with a tongue tie for the first time.

If in the same mood, a 7lbs penalty is unlikely to prevent him from following up. Note at the time of writing, he holds entries at both Plumpton and Market Rasen later in the week. It will be interesting to see how the handicapper reacts to that Exeter victory this morning.

Barrier Peaks loves the mud!! A first win for him over hurdles @ExeterRaces under @tommyscu for the David Pipe Racing Club 🥇#54 pic.twitter.com/k17etgJAsK
— David Pipe (@DavidPipeRacing) January 10, 2023

There were no prices available at the time of writing, and I appreciate he will go off a warm order, but he looked well ahead of his mark at Exeter.

Charlie's Tip

4.10pm Chepstow

Barrier Peaks looks a strong bet for David Pipe

At 6/5 a £10 wager would return £22

Chepstow

January 17, 2023

4:10 pm GMT

6.30pm Southwell - Blow Your Horn

A competitive card at Southwell this evening, and in the extended 12f handicap, Haku bids for a four-timer for the Loughane’s and looks sure to run another big race, but I thought BLOW YOUR HORN ran a promising race from 2lbs out of the handicap last time when making his bid for glory four wide around the home turn.

Ian Williams claims another 3lbs from the each-way selection, who is well drawn in stall two and ran well on his sole previous visit to the course when a close fourth from a 5lbs higher mark – eight if you consider Ben Robinson’s 3lbs. Both career wins – under Jamie Spencer for Charlie Fellowes - have come on the all-weather from higher marks, although he will need a decent gallop to chase.

Charlie's Tip

6.30pm Southwell

Blow Your Horn can go close under Ben Sanderson

At 9/2 a £10 bet would return £55

Southwell

January 17, 2023

6:30 pm GMT

* Betting odds correct at the time of publication. All odds are subject to changes.

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