Charlie McCann's Horse Racing Tips Saturday, 24 October - Cheltenham
Charlie heads to Cheltenham on Saturday for his best bet
It's a busy day of racing action in the UK and Ireland, and Charlie McCann is here with his exclusive free horse racing tips - only at FreeBets.
After a long dry summer the rain has arrived and there is the possibility of up to 20mm of rain at Cheltenham on Thursday night into Friday morning.
The ground was described as a mix of good and good to soft on Thursday morning, but that will ease and good ground horses are likely to not get their conditions after all for the opening Showcase meeting.
1:10pm Cheltenham - Lisbane Park & Spectacularsunrise
It was through gritted teeth that I saw Diamond Ri hose up at Ffos Las on Thursday for Joe Tizzard. The trainer suggested - and I agreed - that he was the best handicapped horse in training at the beginning of last season, but he was a huge disappointment. He was a different horse in South Wales, but can he build on it?
I mention Diamond Ri as LISBANE PARK looks fairly handicapped for his chase debut for his inform yard and is one of two I am going to support in the opening 2m4f novices handicap chase. A winner first time out over hurdles last term, he continued to run well in defeat, finishing third at Windsor - beaten less than 7l - in a competitive handicap with the winner - who disappointed over fences midweek - rated 17lbs higher.
A runner-up in his sole point connections - the same as Diamond Ri - waste little time sending the five-year-old over fences.
As Legends Have It has won his last two and must enter calculations, but I thought SPECTACULARSUNRISE looked one to follow when scoring at Perth last time, and a 5lbs rise is fair although I am not convinced it was the strongest race with the market leader given a passive ride.
Recommendations: Lisbane Park - 4/1 with Coral & Spectacularsunrise - 11/1 with Betfair
2:20pm Cheltenham - Seaniecon
SEANIECON was out of his depth in the 3m Aintree Grade 1 Novice Hurdle but ran an excellent race back in handicap company at Punchestown subsequently and can make a winning reappearance in the Pertemps qualifier.
After Diamond Ri won at Ffos Las on Thursday, I then watched Keithandkaty - another cliff horse - make a winning chase debut at Carlisle for Team O'Neill later in the day, and the latter have their string in excellent form at present.
I remember supporting the selection at Uttoxeter last term over 2m4f when no match for Dig Deep of Ben Pauling, when he gave every indication that he would relish a thorough test of stamina. He has been raised 3lbs since Punchestown, but remains fairly treated, although he has not gone unnoticed by the layers, and the 5/1 and 9/2 went on Friday morning.
Recommendation: Seaniecon - 4/1 with bet365
2:55pm Cheltenham - Diamond Dealer (Each-Way)
Dan Skelton saddles a couple in the 3m1f handicap chase with brother Harry riding market leader Here Comes Georgie, although the latter has stamina to prove on his first start for the yard.
He has had a wind operation since leaving Dylan Cunha and is fitted with a first-time tongue-tie and looks fairly treated but, if the forecast is correct, the ground might be soft come post time and he is too short for one with stamina reservations although his pedigree suggests he should appreciate a trip.
His stablemate DIAMOND DEALER (Each-Way) will be ridden by regular partner Tristan Durrell, and he gets the vote. The seven-year-old was made favourite for the Borders National at Kelso in December but failed to get home over that extended 4m trip, but he travelled well and won back at the Borders track on his latest outing back in March from a 3lbs lower mark.
He acts on soft ground and remains unexposed at this distance. It is not certain that Harry Skelton had the choice of mounts, but the layers have priced up Here Comes Georgie too short and I am sweet on the chance of his stablemate.
Katate Dori may need better ground, Moon d'Orange is another with stamina to prove, but a market move for Shannon Royale on his first start for Martin Keighley would be significant.
Recommendation: Diamond Dealer (Each-Way) - 7/1 with bet365 (3 places)
3:30pm Cheltenham - Lord Byron (Nap)
I am a big fan of Faye Bramley, but there was something not quite right with the running of LORD BYRON (Nap) earlier in the month when the market suggested he would run as poorly as he did. I am prepared to forgive and forget in the hope that Harry Cobden rides him more positively than was the case in South Wales.
This extended two-mile trip is on the sharp side for the four-year-old, but the conditions of today's race could hardly have been framed better for the gelding who will relish the ground. The selection finished fifth in the Triumph before staying on into fourth, stepped up to 2m4f in a Grade 1 Novice Hurdle at Aintree.
This looks an ideal opportunity, although the third from the Aintree Grade 1 juvenile hurdle, Indian River, will have his supporters. That said, he was 10l behind Lord Byron in the Triumph, and I hope to see Cobden go forward for connections who like nothing better than a Cheltenham winner.
Recommendation: Lord Byron (Nap) - 3/1 with bet365
This is Charlie's Nap of the Day selection - see how it stacks up against Alan Kelly's pick too.
*Betting odds correct at the time of publication. All odds are subject to changes.
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