Charlie McCann's Horse Racing Tips Sunday, 15 November - Cheltenham
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.
Charlie McCann's Tips - Sunday, 15 November
Cheltenham are watering overnight, and there is a band of rain due this morning which could bring another 4-5mm of rain, and conditions should be a mix of good and good to soft.
The ground was good to firm on Friday and, with frost overnight into Saturday, the track were unable to water into the middle day of the meeting.
This is being written well before Saturday’s card, and I worry we will get a raft of non-runners Saturday, but today should be run on decent ground. I hope it is a good day for local trainer Ben Pauling.
12:50pm Cheltenham - Mourne Crystal (Nap)
Made In Reugny cost connections €155,000 after finishing second at Compiegne and has joined Dan Skelton. He could be anything but will have to be smart to beat MOURNE CRYSTAL (Nap), who pulled Ben Jones’s arms out before making significant mistakes at the last two flights of hurdles at Ffos Las on soft ground.
Ben Pauling suggested in the Racing Post that he “needed his first run badly” and he did win his sole Irish point by 9l on ground described as yielding to soft. The overnight watering and prospect of rain on race day should enable the horse to take his chance, and he gets the vote for Ben Pauling in the silks of Harry Redknapp and chums.
I backed Old Habits at Perth for Olly Murphy and was disappointed with his finishing effort. I also recommended the yard’s Lexington Wood on his reappearance at Worcester when he finished a modest fourth. I skilfully avoided Lexington Wood at Cheltenham on Friday when he won the Novice handicap Hurdle.
Recommendation: Mourne Crystal (Nap) - 7/2 with William Hill
This is Charlie's Nap of the Day selection - see how it stacks up against Alan Kelly's pick too.
1:25pm Cheltenham - Dig Deep & Four Springs
The unbeaten Crystal Island makes his handicap/chase debut for Nicky Hensderson and heads the market in the 2m4f+ Novices’ Handicap Chase. The hope is that the rain arrives and all thirteen go to post.
Crystal Island has won a point, and both hurdles to date and an opening mark of 131 is no more than fair, and I have recommended DIG DEEP as one of my Horses To Follow this season and was surprised to see him open up at 20/1 for Ben Pauling, one of two runners from the yard in the race, and I have supported both.
Kielan Woods rides recent Southwell winner FOUR SPRINGS, who has been raised 6lbs for scoring at Southwell over the minimum distance when he gave every impression he would appreciate a step up in trip. The second at Southwell – Cheesy Icon – was a fluent scorer at Uttoxeter last weekend and is now rated 5lbs higher, and Four Springs remains fairly treated.
Woods keeps the ride on Four Springs with stable jockey Ben Jones on Dig Deep, who is making his chase debut and has plenty of ground to make up with Crystal Island on Ascot hurdles form – allowed 12lbs for his 18l beating. That was over 2m5f+, and Dig Deep was still there going to two out and looked ill at ease going right-handed.
The 20/1 went on Friday, but the 16/1 with Bet365 on Saturday morning looked worth an interest.
Recommendations: Dig Deep - 16/1 with bet365 & Four Springs - 5/1 with William Hill
2:00pm Cheltenham - Larzac
Highlands Legacy is the one to beat in the 2m handicap chase, having form figures of 1-2-2-1-2 over fences last season, and he was, arguably, an unlucky loser in the Red Rum at Aintree when he clouted the last when challenging from a 4lbs lower mark.
He went up 22lbs in the handicap because of his consistency last term, and there is no reason he should not improve again this season. He has an excellent record fresh and goes on all ground, but I was blown away by the Uttoxeter hurdles success of LARZAC for Faye Bramley and will take a chance on him on chase debut.
The selection failed to win in five starts for Willie Mullins but, if you get the chance, do look at his run in a valuable Cork handicap hurdle when he finished fourth over 2m3f when he travelled like a dream but failed to get home.
The selection cut no ice in two Grade 1 juvenile hurdles for Mullins, but he has the build of a chaser, showed at Uttoxeter he goes on good ground and gets the vote in the famous Green ‘N Gold silks for J P McManus.
Recommendation: Larzac - 8/1 with William Hill
Backing Charlie’s selections today? Plenty of welcome offers are waiting at freebets.com to help you get the best prices.
3:10pm Cheltenham - Mister Ursus (Each-Way)
Dan Skelton saddles the first two in the market in the Greatwood following the (premature?) defection of Idaho Sun on account of the prevailing ground despite the prospect of some rain on race day.
Let It Rain and Harry Lowes hold outstanding claims, but I was hugely impressed with the Perth success of MISTER URSUS (Each-Way) at Perth back in the spring and, at a double-figure price, he gets the each-way vote.
The selection has had a run this season when he was claimer-ridden and ran as well as connections I would imagine hoped he would, staying on nicely down the far rail without being knocked about. The selection is 13lbs higher than Perth, but he was backed off the boards in Scotland, and the winning time was good.
A three-time flat winner in Germany/Poland, this has been the plan since Perth, although the vast majority in the field have been laid out for this valuable and prestigious prize.
Recommendation: Mister Ursus (Each-Way) - 10/1 with Coral (5 places)
*Betting odds correct at the time of publication. All odds are subject to changes.
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