Charlie McCann's Horse Racing Tips Thursday, 29 October - Stratford & Ffos Las
Charlie heads to Ffos Las on Thursday 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.
Conditions were described as a mix of soft and good to soft at Stratford on Wednesday morning, with a dry forecast.
3:20pm Stratford - Gatineau Park
Mr Hope Street’s primary early season target is the Coral Cup, and this 2m 3f+ trip is on the sharp side for the Freebooter handicap Chase winner at Aintree on Grand National Day. He has only been raised 5lbs since Aintree, but that improved form was over 3m1f; he has a poor record returning from a break, and I will be surprised if he is good enough today at a trip at which he was vulnerable last term. He is a best price of 12/1 with Hills and bet365 for the Newbury showpiece at the end of November.
I am a sucker for a chasing newcomer on handicap debut and have not given up on Silver Hill despite finishing last of four – beaten less than 2l - at Newcastle on Tuesday. The winning pointer GATINEAU PARK won two of his four starts over timber last season, culminating in a visually impressive win at Ayr on soft ground at the beginning of March.
The grey did disappoint first time out, which is a slight cause for concern, but he has always been considered a fine chasing prospect by Kim Bailey & Mat Nicholls. Connections have decided to throw him to the lions first time out given this valuable 2m3f handicap is an ultra-competitive heat, but he has his ground, and I expect him to be ridden positively by Tom Bellamy.
Bailey said after winning his final start at Ayr:
“The soft ground is important to him, and he's very much a chaser in the making. I haven't had as good a jumper as him in a long time, so there's lots to look forward to.”
Recommendation: Gatineau Park - 9/4 with Ladbrokes
2:30pm Ffos Las - It’s Easy
Ugo Bingo is likely to be all the rage having scored at Chepstow by 5l from an 8lbs lower mark earlier in the month. That was on good ground, however, and he looks vulnerable back on heavy ground off his revised mark, although the Joe Tizzard yard have made an excellent start to the campaign.
A market move for the winning pointer Country Mousse would be worth noting on his first start for Tom Symonds, but I think this rests between the mare's Hellfire Princess – on seasonal debut – and last week’s Fontwell second, IT’S EASY, who is taken to go one better.
Hellfire Princess finished last season with course and distance success on soft ground from just a 3lbs lower mark back in March under today’s conditional jockey. It is worth pointing out that Ben Macey could not claim on that occasion, but he takes off 5lbs this afternoon. Thus, one could argue she is 2lbs better off today and has run well in defeat when fresh in the past. Kerry Lee had a slow start to the season in 2025, and she will be keen to hit the ground running this term.
It’s Easy had the third 14l behind when second at Fontwell last week and the mare is 2lbs well-in having been raised a couple of pounds for the run. She can race from the same mark as when dotting up by 40l on similar ground to today’s (heavy) at Bangor back in November. Adam Wedge keeps the ride for Cath Williams, who saddled a winner at Hereford earlier in the week.
Recommendation: It’s Easy - 4/1 with Ladbrokes
4:00pm Ffos Las - Fairye Forth (Nap)
The chase course at Ffos Las is good with the fences back on the NH track.
I was not alone in thinking Mountain Mike would make a better chaser than hurdler last term, and he was sent off no bigger than 7/2 in his four starts over the larger obstacles. Things did not go according to plan, however, and you would have to say he was a bit of a disappointment. He has that valuable chasing experience, however, and starts this campaign from a 6lbs lower mark than when embarking on his chasing career.
Preference is for the chase debutant FAIRYE FORTH (Nap), who was taken out of a similar contest at Newton Abbot yesterday on account of the soft ground. The Rebecca Curtis-trained novice won one of his three starts between the flags and had form figures of 3-2-1 over hurdles, with the win – and the second – coming here over 2m4f on similar ground.
Sean Bowen - who was in the plate when the selection landed the odds here in May – retains the ride, and he looks the type. His trainer has suggested that his schooling has gone well and an opening mark of 117 looks workable.
Recommendation: Fairye Forth (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.
*Betting odds correct at the time of publication. All odds are subject to changes.
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