Charlie McCann's Horse Racing Tips Sunday, 8 November - Naas, Ffos Las & Saint Cloud
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, 8 November
All eyes will be on the return of last year’s brilliant Supreme Novice Hurdle winner Kopek Des Bordes (2:39pm), who fell when challenging two out last time out at the Punchestown Festival, having finished second in the Arkle when he blundered his chance away at the last behind stablemate Kargese.
Trainer Willie Mullins has a near monopoly on the 2m Chase division with Kargese, Il Etait Temps, Majborough and this inmate in the yard. I am a huge Kopek Des Bordes fan and will be disappointed if he cannot make a winning reappearance.
3:13pm Naas - Eachtotheirtown
Anzadam won his first four starts and was touted as a Champion Hurdle prospect prior to finishing second in the Fighting Fifth to Golden Ace twelve months ago, although he was actually disappointing given both Constitution Hill and The New One fell in that Newcastle feature.
He was subsequently beaten three times by the Champion Hurdler Lossiemouth – all in Grade 1 company - beaten 7l, 18l and 16l and 15l by Brighterdaysahead when fourth in the Irish Champion Hurdle at the DRF.
He is invariably keen, and it is possible that chasing will be the making of him if he treats the larger obstacles with more respect. He is rated 152 over hurdles, and that is 9lbs higher than EACHTOTHEIROWN, but I cannot have Anzadam at a best price of 10/11 and the vote goes to the Barry Connell-trained chasing newcomer.
The selection finished last season with a win in the 2m Grade 1 Novice Hurdle at Punchestown. Yes, that was not a strong renewal, but connections have always felt he would make a better chaser than hurdle, and his trainer has gone on record as saying he is an Arkle horse.
Connell trains former Champion Chaser Marine Nationale, so he knows a thing or two about top-class 2m chasers. He wore a first-time hood at Punchestown, and the aid is back on this afternoon. He will try and make all, and his style of running will help the keen-going Anzadam, but I hope Sean Flanagan has enough reserves to fend off the Willie Mullins-trained favourite.
Recommendation: Eachtotheirtown - 7/2 with Paddy Power
4:12pm Ffos Las - Pure Carbon (Nap)
Rula Bula only got as far as the second before decanting Jonjo O’Neill midweek, and he has now been a beaten favourite in both chase starts. He was held up at Uttoxeter on chase debut yet went from the front at Chepstow on Wednesday.
Centara goes well for Jay Tidball and represents the in-form Paul Nicholls yard. He has been out of sorts this year but won from an 11lbs higher mark at his beloved Newton Abbot last September. He was well backed when disappointing returning from a two-month break at Newton Abbot last month, but he may have found the ground too soft.
I respect the chances of Rula Bula and Centara, but the Harry Derham yard have struck form in recent days, and PURE CARBON (Nap) is taken to make a winning reappearance. The seven-year-old has never won first time out but has run some excellent races in defeat and has won half of his six completed chase starts.
He does race from a career-high mark, having won snugly at Stratford when last seen in April from a 4lbs lower mark. Interestingly, he was due to race in the 2m handicap chase at Aintree yesterday, but connections had a change of heart.
Derham said of his seven-year-old in a recent Racing Post stable tour:
“My sense is that he can keep progressing. He's a really good jumper and quite a smooth-travelling horse. I think he could end up winning a £50,000 chase this season. Top of the ground is important to him.”
Note conditions at Ffos Las were described as good (good to firm in places) on Saturday morning with the prospect of just an isolated shower between then and race time.
Recommendation: Pure Carbon (Nap) - 2/1 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 Saint-Cloud - Legacy Link
I missed recommending Pathein at Chantilly when he won at over 8/1 last month, and do note he runs at Capanelle in Italy for Ed Dunlop this afternoon when he will be ridden by Ryan Moore for the first time.
I am more interested in watching and backing LEGACY LINK in a listed 10f fillies’ event for John & Thady Gosden, with the drop back to this trip for the first time since winning the Musidora at York in the spring considered the key.
I remember how well the selection travelled in the Oaks on good to soft ground before being outstayed by Thundering Home at Epsom. That was not a vintage renewal, but this listed contest represents a drop in grade for a filly who was too keen and failed to get home when last seen in the Yorkshire Oaks in August.
Conditions were described as “very soft” on Saturday morning, but we know that French going descriptions should be taken with a pinch of salt. The filly has yet to race on soft ground, but she certainly enjoyed the cut at Epsom and her dam – a sister to Frankel! – ran well on her sole start on soft ground.
There are no prices – unsurprisingly – at the time of writing, and please ignore if shorter than 6/4.
Recommendation: Legacy Link
*Betting odds correct at the time of publication. All odds are subject to changes.
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