Friday Racing Tips: Related and Ifwecan can set us up nicely for weekend ahead

Newmarket 16:15

I always get into trouble with the racing "purists" when I say these things like this, but so be it. The past year or so really has taught me that life really is too short to worry about such trivial matters.

I am referring to Euro Charline's unfortunate retirement on Wednesday afternoon robbing the Group 1 Falmouth Stakes at 16:15 of nearly all of its betting attraction.

That may seem a rather crass and narrow-minded point to make given that her trainer Marco Botti sounded a pretty broken man when announcing on Twitter that the news was "the saddest day of his career" as she suffered a tendon injury on the gallops.

But as long as she is okay long-term, as it appears she is, then a valuable new career awaits her in the paddocks, and I am far more concerned that her withdrawal from the race has eradicated what was, until then, a rather attractive each-way betting heat with the "dead eight" featuring an odds-on poke.

Of course, getting on to any size in these kind of races is half the problem - as is praying that there isn't then a non-runner if you manage to strike that elusive each-way punt - but it was really set up for that attempted play.

The odds-on favourite Usherette has obvious claims but not so overwhelming that you couldn't see the likes of last year's winner Amazing Maria giving her a real race back on her favoured fast ground, or Alice Springs, who would have finished a close second at worst in the Coronation Stakes with a clear run.

But, without the safety net of three places, it now really does look a "watch, no bet" race. I do think Always Smile, just over 2 lengths third to Usherette in the Duke Of Cambridge Stakes at Royal Ascot, will get closer to the French filly on this quicker ground but a price of 12.011/1 is no more than fair given the opposition.

Well, when I say quicker ground, I trust that will be the case, but the BBC forecast for Newmarket on Friday was for rain from 7am-10pm, so it's a weather watch again, I am afraid.

Newmarket 15:45

The Duchess Of Cambridge Stakes at 15:45 is another race that doesn't float my particular boat from a punting point of view, and juvenile races rarely do.

I am personally more worried about how much the person after which the race is named appears to have aged prematurely since joining the royal family - and, at the risk of upsetting any more people, let me stress than I am a Monarchist and am simply making an honest, and frankly, correct observation - rather than the equine participants.

Bletchley is the obvious favourite after her narrow second in the Albany Stakes but it is not hard to envisage horses such as impressive Haydock winner Nasimi improving past her. No bet. All day long.

Newmarket 16:45

The 3yo handicap at 16:45 - I must find out why the Channel 4 races are on so late today - is another exceptionally difficult race to call and I must stick to my principles and advise no bet.

I refuse to put up a recommendation that I am not backing myself, and hopefully this gives this column the faintest whiff of credibility.

However, I do think that Autocratic will go very close in the most competitive of races and he, along with Wild Hacked, would be my two against the field.

Autocratic has been given the Sir Michael Stoute kid glove treatment since dislocating a shoulder as a yearling and he looked a horse to follow when winning a Sandown maiden last time, though the handicapper didn't miss the promise of the win and nor has the market, unsurprisingly.

Wild Hacked was re-routed here from Haydock's saturated ground last Saturday and I can see the combination of quick ground and the step up to 1m2f giving Botti some welcome good news. But it is just too competitive a race for me to get involved with as, having been through the race, I could genuinely make a cogent case for all 14 runners. Or attempt to, anyway.

Newmarket 14:40

I have just noticed that there are two More4 races towards the front of the Newmarket card, and they apparently fall into my "terrestrial tipping" brief, so here goes.

I made a quiet promise to myself that I was done with Mark Johnston handicappers after tipping Master Of Finance at Epsom on Oaks Day, and seeing him run appallingly and finish last, as I just think they are wildly inconsistent. Actually, that horse may not be as he also finished last again next time.

At the risk of upsetting someone else there. I am going to stick with that strategy from now on. He is a hugely successful trainer and refreshingly honest and forthright in his blog, but I can't get a handle on how Johnston works and thinks as a trainer, very similar to Jonjo O'Neill over jumps, so they are getting the swerve.

On that basis, I nearly ignored the claims of Ifwecan in the 14:40 until I saw that the horse has been with Martin Smith, switched from Johnston, since May 20.

The waters are muddied somewhat as I see that the horse is in the Newmarket July Sales today - he could well be a non-runner if he does go through the ring - but I think he has a very good chance if running, as he was back to form over 7f here last time when a 33-1 fourth and has been raised only 1lb for it.

In a typically busy season for Johnston last season, he raced 17 times - he must have picked up an injury at some stage..... - and his best efforts came over this trip of a mile, such as when second over this course and distance, and when winning at Goodwood in October.

Back him at 16.015/1 or bigger.

The 3yo fillies handicap at 15:10 looks a bit of a nightmare to be honest. If Sainted is as effective on fast ground as she is on soft, then I think she wins, but that is a very big if and not one I am willing to bet on.

York Races

There are three C4/More4 races at York.

The 5f handicap at 14:55 is on the "lesser channel" and Bogart has obvious chances back on his favourite stomping ground and on better ground while Thesme is in form and has the services of Rachel Richardson claiming 5lb for one of the last times, the rider having lost that right with a winner at Catterick on Wednesday.

Both have winning chances but I will risk a few quid on Related. His trainer is a dab hand with the point-and-shoot merchants and he is endeavouring to turn his 6yo into one, after a career racing between 6f and 1m for other handlers, since joining him this season.

The experiment didn't go well on his first ever start over 5f here last time but I am willing to take a chance now that the visor is back on for the first time since his win at Kempton last year, off a falling mark of 92 and on the expected fast ground on which he excels and finished fourth in last season's Wokingham off a 5lb higher mark than this.

Back him at 26.025/1.

Mayfair Lady has an obvious and considerable chance in the 16:00 but the betting tells you that and I can't see much of an edge in the 16:35.

I was tempted by Yorkidding given that he has been dropped 3lb for two poor runs recently and is due a decent performance once again, but I better stop there before I get into any more trouble....

Good luck punting today.

Recommended Bets

Back Ifwecan at 16.015/1 in 14:40 at Newmarket
Back Related at 26.025/1 at 14:55 York