Charlie McCann’s Horse Racing Betting Tips for Saturday 12th November

The feature race of the three-day November meeting is the Paddy Power Gold Cup, and I wonder how much good to soft there will be in the ground by the time of the feature with a dry sunny day forecast with temperatures up to a barmy sixteen degrees.

1.10pm Cheltenham

The 3m 1f handicap chase for amateur jockeys is an absolute belter, and I thought Brave Way did very well to score at Kilbeggan last time for Rachel Blackmore, given she was keen enough and had looked a doubtful stayer at Perth on her sole previous start at the trip, under rules, back in May.

The handicapper has certainly given her a chance, and Henry De Bromhead’s mare will be ridden by leading Irish amateur Ben Harvey who has ridden three winners from five chase starts in Ireland this season.

Trixster is a horse I have plenty of time for, and I thought he ran a terrific race behind subsequent winner Twig at Warwick last month. Trainer Tim Vaughan had a good winner at Kempton on Monday with Dalamoi, and I think this inmate could easily go under the radar, although there are no prices available at the time of writing.

The each-way vote, however, goes to the lightly raced VALSHEDA, who has his optimum conditions and remains open to significant after just three starts over the larger obstacles. Leading amateur Will Biddick takes the ride on the 7-y-old, and that age group have landed this prize three times in the last four years.

Tough from the front! Valsheda gets off the mark over fences in the @FfosLasRC feature for @sevenbarrows, giving @james_bowen_ a double! pic.twitter.com/tvhxoMOtdy
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) March 23, 2022

Valsheda has been on my radar since his chase debut when he was jumping like a buck before coming down at Newbury on chase debut. He is 7lbs higher in the weights this afternoon, having finished runner-up at Kempton before going one better at Ffos Las when last seen in the spring. This mix of good/good to soft ground is ideal, and there is more to come from the Nicky Henderson-trained chaser this term. I think he will get further this season, but this looks like an excellent starting point.

Charlie's Tip

1.10pm Cheltenham

Valsheda can go close for trainer Nicky Henderson

At 7/2 a £10 bet would return £45

Cheltenham

November 12, 2022

1:10 pm GMT

2.20pm Cheltenham

It is a competitive but substandard Paddy Power Gold Cup.

Ga Law finished third in the Old Roan at Aintree last time despite making a horlicks of the fifth last when he was unsighted at the final obstacle on the far side. In the circumstances, he ran a terrific race, but Millers Bank came down at the first and Do Your Job blundered his race away. Jamie Snowden has his string in excellent form, and Ga Law is a must for the shortlist.

Il Ridoto represents the champion trainer who has not won this race since 2014. Since his last start, he has had a wind procedure and will enjoy underfoot conditions. The Irish don’t have a great recent record in the race, and French Dynamite jumped right when third at Punchestown on his last chase start.

Happygolucky is a favourite of mine, but this extended two-and-a-half miles is on the sharp side, and he will do well to defy 11st 9lbs on his first start for 580 days.

GALAHAD QUEST was only beaten 5L in the race 12 months ago, can race off a 4lbs lower mark, and at six years of age, is open to further improvement. He had a nice pipe-opener for the race when second at Chepstow last month when hampered two out, although he looked beaten at the time. He has only won one of eleven chase starts, but I do think there is a big race in him this term. In a wide-open contest, he gets the each-way vote.

Charlie's Tip

2.20pm Cheltenham

Galahad Quest can close in this race once again

At 11/1 a £10 win bet would return 120

Cheltenham

November 12, 2022

2:20 pm GMT+1

3.30pm Cheltenham

Wiseguy looks very potentially well treated for his handicap debut, having been sent off an odds-on favourite for all three starts – two of which he has won. His sole defeat came over an inadequate 2m 1f+, and this additional half mile looks ideal. He has opened up a best price of 7/2, which might look big on Saturday evening, but I think this can go to Ireland courtesy of Tony Martin’s UNANSWERED.

The selection improved during the summer on the flat, almost landing a famous double at the Galway Festival in July. He had shown little over timber before dotting up at Punchestown back in May over the minimum trip. This additional half-mile should suit, and he remains potentially well-treated despite taking a huge hike in the weights since the spring.

I was staggered when the money came for Guernesey at Sandown on Sunday as I was convinced the bottomless ground was against him. We will never know if the money was inspired, I suppose as he came down at the second, but this better ground is more his bag, and he should have won a minute at Warwick on his penultimate start when I felt he won despite the assistance -or lack of it - from the saddle. Off just a 4lb higher mark, I think he will be a threat to all if over that mishap last weekend.

Nickle Back has been in my notebook since finishing runner-up behind Cadzand at Southwell last March and has not been seen since winning at Fontwell by 30L on soft ground last October. He will do well to defy an absence of over 400 days, especially if the ground continues to dry out. I thought he would go chasing this season, but it is just great to see him back on the track.

Charlie's Nap of the Day

3.30pm Cheltenham

Unanswered can land this for Tony Martin

At 5/1 a £10 bet would return £60

Newcastle

November 11, 2022

3:20 pm GMT

2.12pm Uttoxeter

This is a much stronger race than the one TEA FOR FREE won over three miles here last time, and he has been raised 13lbs for that 15L romp. That said, I promised myself I would follow the Charlie Longsdon-trained imposing 7-y-old until he met with defeat when scoring at Huntingdon back in May.

The ground was given as good to soft at the Staffordshire track on Friday morning, but it is due to be dry on race day. Any further rain would be a negative for the selection, who is likely to be put away for the spring when the rains arrive in earnest.

The Hollow Ginge was very well backed at Cheltenham’s Showcase meeting but once again failed to fire. He is extremely well handicapped on his best form and has been dropped another 3lbs in the weights; it will be interesting to see if connections try and recoup losses.

Premier D’troice has been raised 8lbs for scoring over C&D back in the spring and remains well-treated on his best form. Sean Bowen takes over from Ben Poste, and Katy Price’s 8-y-old is considered the main danger.

Charlie's Tip

2.12pm Uttoxeter

Tea For Free can make it a hat-trick of victories

At 2/1 a £10 bet would return £30

Uttoxeter

November 12, 2022

2:12 pm GMT

12.43pm Wetherby

Tom Symonds has made a quiet start to the season, but he had a welcome winner at Bangor on Wednesday, and MORIKO DE VASSY is a horse who I thought would be plying his trade in good handicap hurdles this season as he makes his way up the weights. As it is, he makes his debut over the larger obstacles, and there are chase winners in his pedigree.

Minella Plus took advantage of Mortlach – second in a poor Grade 2 last weekend – slipping on the home bend and losing valuable ground and momentum - to score at Ludlow from just a 2lbs lower mark last time. He represents a big danger, but he looks vulnerable to a potential improver, and the Symonds novice could be a class above today’s rivals.