Betfred’s Owen McMahon picks out his best bet from all five meetings across the UK & Ireland on Tuesday 15 August 2023.

I’m going to stick my neck out and say that if Golden West, who holds an entry for the G2 Betfred Champagne Stakes at Doncaster on St Leger day, doesn’t win this novice event at Newcastle on Tuesday evening, then Michael Bell’s GALACTIC CHARM will.

Sea The Dream, Star Runner and Lingua Franca will also have their supporters, but I think Bell’s two-year-old son of Sea The Moon sets the standard – and I think there’s more to come.

Obviously, as mentioned, Karl Burke’s unraced Golden West is a huge danger. That yard is extremely capable with juveniles, and the entry tells a story. However, I always like to side with the proven form over the potential of a well-bred newbie.

Galactic Charm made a very pleasing racecourse debut at Ascot in the middle of July when behind a couple of nice types for Hugo Palmer and Roger Varian, before filling the runner-up spot behind a lovely colt for Richard Fahey at Beverley.

Lots went wrong for the selection that day, however. He was drawn out wide and subsequently in an unfavourable position throughout the early stages before finding trouble in running approaching the business end of the race.

I think he was better than the official margin suggested, and the way he stayed on eye-catchingly at the finish implies that this step up to a mile is going to really suit.

Galactic Charm also boasts an interesting entry – specifically the Goffs Million at The Curragh on September 23 – and it’s fair to say that if he wants to take up that engagement, he’ll need to be getting off the mark here.