Charlie McCann's Horse Racing Tips Monday, 2 November - Plumpton
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Charlie McCann's Tips - Monday, 2 November
A terrific card at Plumpton on ground described as a mix of good and good to soft on Sunday morning, including an impossible-looking £55k 2m4f handicap hurdle. The eye is drawn to the Charles Brynes-trained Let Him B, although the British handicapper has raised him 6lbs above his Irish mark.
If Joyau Allen rocks up at Southwell under a penalty for winning at Worcester on chase debut yesterday, he will be impossible to beat if in the same mood. He is already entered at Chepstow (Wednesday) and Plumpton (Thursday) and landed a gamble on Sunday. It is fair to assume that Jamie Snowden has inherited a well handicapped horse from the Paul Nicholls yard.
After Pic d’Orhy’s facile Charlie Hall Chase success in the same colours on Saturday, these are character-building times for the 14-time champion trainer. Thank God for the stable cat Viroflay won at Ascot on Saturday.
1:00pm Plumpton - Tom Taggle
Only four go to post for the 3m1f+ novices handicap chase, but that includes TOM TAGGLE, who will appreciate the step back up in distance having finished third over 2m4f on ground softer than ideal at Worcester last month, returning from a 200-day absence.
The selection won a 3m handicap hurdle at Chepstow last April from a 3lbs lower mark, and he has the size to make a better chaser than hurdler. Adam Wedge was in the saddle for his hurdle success, and this lightly raced six-year-old will appreciate the forecast good ground.
Hard Stare is a winning pointer, but that success came over the minimum trip, and he does not give the impression stamina is his forte. Tom Taggle’s Chepstow hurdle victory is the only success from the quartet under Rules, and connections look to have found a good opportunity to double up.
Recommendation: Tom Taggle - 6/4 with bet365
1:30pm Plumpton - Le Cold Grey (Nap)
The Nicky Henderson-trained Bold Step has finished runner-up in both starts; an Exeter bumper at the beginning of the year and a Hexham Novice Hurdle when no match for Passing Diamond – in receipt of 7lbs - at this trip back in May.
The winner is now rated 128 over fences but remains well handicapped off that mark, having finished runner-up in a valuable Novice Chase at Cheltenham last month. The hope is that the market speaks in his favour, as I am hopeful of a winning hurdles debut from the Paul Nicholls-trained LE COLD GREY (Nap).
I don’t know why, but I associate the famous late Andy Stewart colours with two tracks, Cheltenham and Plumpton, and the selection has also finished in the frame in both Bumper starts, finishing third at Lingfield (all-weather) in January before going one place better at Wincanton in March. He is bred to jump a fence in time and stamina is likely to be his forte, but this 2m4f+ trip on hurdles debut looks an ideal starting point, and he is the subject of positive noises – but not from the stable cat - coming out of Ditcheat.
Recommendation: Le Cold Grey (Nap) - 7/4 with bet365
This is Charlie's Nap of the Day selection - see how it stacks up against Alan Kelly's pick too.
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4:00pm Plumpton - Coastal Command
Everyonesgame finished second over course and distance from today’s mark back in the spring, beaten just a neck under today’s talented conditional jockey. Chad Bament couldn’t claim in that conditional jockeys’ event in May but gets 5lbs this afternoon. He looks well treated although this will be trainer Andy Irvine’s first runner for some time.
COASTAL COMMAND was beaten 17l when third at Fontwell to the 110-rated Moab back in September. Nicky Henderson suggested in a recent Racing Post stable tour that the horse needs good ground and will be out soon before the ground goes against him. Why then has he not been running over the summer?
The ground was fast at Ascot on Saturday, yet trainers – who have been bleating about the lack of rain – were prepared to race their horses under those conditions given the prize money.
Coastal Command – owned by the King & Queen - looks harshly treated from an opening mark of 102 this afternoon, but he was too keen at Fontwell, and the hope is that the six-year-old is more amenable to restraint with the run under his belt. The selection is a half-brother to three winners in these colours, and Henderson will be keen to get a win under his belt, with underfoot conditions ideal.
Recommendation: Coastal Command - 5/1 with bet365
*Betting odds correct at the time of publication. All odds are subject to changes.
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