Charlie McCann’s Tips
Charlie heads to Leopardstown on Monday for his best bet
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Latest Profit & Loss Figures
For the second successive week, a poor start to the week was turned around by a successful and profitable weekend (+£10.20) with three winners on Saturday at 4/1, 7/2 (Nap with a 35p R4), and 9/4 from six selections and 4/1 and 5/4 (Nap) winners from three selections on Sunday.
Thus, the week-ending Sunday, 22 February, ended with a small profit of +£2.51 to a £1 level stake.
Latest Profit & Loss for the week ending Sunday, 22 February, 2026
- Cumulative profit since August 1, 2022: +£1,478.85
- Week ending Sunday, 22 February: +£2.51
- February 2026 to date: +£30.88
- Year 2026 to date: +£88.64
- Year 2025 ended: +£312.73
- Year 2024 ended: +£364.90
- Year 2023 ended: +£469.27
- Period 1/8/22-31/12/22 ended: +£243.31
(All figures to a £1 level stake)
Charlie McCann’s Tips - Monday, 2 March
2:45pm Southwell - Smurfette
Heavy ground forecast at Southwell, and you do not associate such deep ground with the track. Many of the horses entered, and subsequently declared, for the meeting would have done so expecting better ground.
In the 3m Handicap Chase, I would argue that all six who go to post have question marks surrounding ground and, in some cases, the trip.
Storminhome is blinkered for the first time by Dan Skelton. The 9-year-old has only raced three times since March 2024 and is unlikely to appreciate these conditions, but he has dropped to an attractive mark on his best form for Ben Pauling. He will be one to consider on better ground come the spring.
Lilting Verse was no match for Holokea off this mark on soft ground at Ffos Las back in October, and the winner is now rated 12lbs higher in the weights. The mare has disappointed on both subsequent starts, however, and is overlooked.
A market move for Jasmine De Cotte – stablemate of Storminhome – would be worth noting, but he, too, might prefer a sounder surface. Dan Skelton should know where he stands with SMURFETTE, given he used to train the mare, but she gets the vote even though Skelton pulled her out of a handicap hurdle a couple of seasons ago on account of soft ground.
She was still in with every chance when blundering two out at Market Rasen over 3m on soft ground last time, and she is a course and distance winner – albeit on good ground – from an 8lbs lower mark. He holds Kayce Dutton on his last start, but the latter is considered the chief threat, having scored back at the Lincolnshire track, on soft ground, on his penultimate start.
Recommendation: Smurfette - 13/8 with bet365
4:25pm Leopardstown - Monbeg Park (Each-Way) (Nap)
The listed Quinnbet-sponsored 2m5f+ handicap chase is a fascinating race with the top three in the weights – and betting for today's race – having their last run before a crack at the Grand National next month.
Gorgeous Tom has not been seen since running a tremendous race when fourth in the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury at the end of November, having been slowly away after another farcical standing start. Tom Segal, writing in the Racing Post last week, reminded us all how important the starts will be at next week's Festival, citing Myretown and Caldwell Potter as winners who benefitted from lining up on the inside, thus saving valuable ground and having a clear view of their fences.
Gorgeous Tom is returning from a three-month absence and represents the yard of Henry De Bromhead, who remains quiet on the eve of the Festival. He may find this trip just on the sharp side and, of the three market principles, I just favour Jordans, who finished runner-up in the Grade 1 3m1f Novice Chase at Aintree last spring but would have finished even closer had he not been hampered by the fall of Dancing City six out.
Quoi De Bourbon was brought down in that melee and has been pulled up in his two starts so far this term. This better ground should suit, described as a mix of yielding and soft on Sunday morning with a largely dry forecast, and he, like Gorgeous Tom, is on my long shortlist for Aintree.
This Listed contest was won by MONBEG PARK (Each-Way) (Nap) twelve months ago when trained by Sean Doyle, and the nine-year-old can race from a mark just 2lbs higher this afternoon. The drier the ground, the better for the selection who has bits of form for his new yard this term – beaten less than 2l at level weights by the 160-rated Heart Wood – that makes him look well treated given the promising Michael Kenneally takes off a valuable 5lbs. He looks fair each-way value at 15/2 with Paddy Power, 5 place, although they are the only firm with prices at the time of writing.
This is the first chase on the card, and the hope is that the course continues to dry during the day and is nearer yielding than soft come post time.
Recommendation: Monbeg Park (Each-Way) (Nap) - 15/2 with Paddy Power (5 places)
Cheltenham Festival Antepost Selections
The weights have been published for the Festival handicaps, and with all major firms now going NRNB, it is time to add to our two ante-post suggestions with two more recommendations –with money-back insurance if they don't start – in two of the opening-day handicaps.
Plate Handicap Chase - Will The Wise (Each-Way)
The Ben Pauling-trained Handstands has no fewer than four entries at Cheltenham and I think his best chance would be in Tuesday's 2m4f Handicap Chase but, listening to the handler on one of the seemingly endless supply of Festival preview nights, it appears that the target is a toss-up between the Ultima Handicap over 3m1f on the Tuesday, and the Grade 1 Ryanair over 2m4f+ on Thursday.
Jagwar was a facile winner of the corresponding race twelve months ago, from a 13lbs lower mark - but he has the option of the Ultima earlier in the card, especially if stablemate Iroko bypasses Cheltenham to wait for Aintree and another crack at the Grand National, having run an excellent race in fourth last year.
If Iroko runs at Kelso this weekend, that would make Jagwar more likely to run in the Ultima over further, and he has looked in need of a step up in trip on both starts so far this term. Second-guessing the Festival target for J P McManus-owned handicappers is a difficult task, but the noises coming out of the Josh Guerriero and Oliver Greenall yard in recent days seem to favour the Ultima.
JP still has both McLaurey (Emmet Mullins) and Waterford Whispers (Hendry De Bromhead) near the front of the market, but preference is for another Irish raider, WILL THE WISE (Each-Way).
Gavin Cromwell has entered the selection in both the Plate and the Jack Richards for Novices over slightly further on Thursday. A winning pointer, the seven-year-old pulled up few trees in two chase starts last term but looked a natural in two races at Galway over 2m2f back in the autumn.
He has looked a non-stayer in two starts since in valuable big-field handicaps over 3m, and has been kept fresh and well since the turn of the year with Cheltenham in mind. Gavin Cromwell has not had a vintage season in Ireland, but he is an outstanding trainer, and he said of his inmate in a recent Racing Post pre-Cheltenham Tour.
"He'll probably go for the Plate, but we'll decide when we have to. I don't think he stays that well. I know he won a Pertemps qualifier over nearly three miles over hurdles, but he's a very good, quick jumper over fences and probably over-travels, so we're going to go back to two and a half miles."
I thought the 20/1 available on Tuesday afternoon NRNB was too big.
Recommendation: Will The Wise (Each-Way) 20/1 with BetVictor (4 places) (NRNB)
NH Handicap Chase - One Big Bang (Each-Way)
Ireland had won seven of the last eight renewals of the NH Chase prior to last year, when it was made into a handicap. The prize was won in 2025 by the 7/2 joint favourite and subsequent Irish and Welsh Grand National winner Haiti Couleurs, trained by Rebecca Curtis in South Wales.
Note the last five winners have been returned at SP's of 7/2, 2/1, 10/11, 15/8, and 7/2, and the biggest priced winner of the race in the last decade was the great dual National winner Tiger Roll at 16s back in 2017! That looks like a high price now, but do remember it was a Grade 2 Novice Chase until last year.
Silver Thorn needs eighteen to come out if he is to get a run, while I was expecting to see Saint Davy step back down in distance, having looked a non-stayer over 3m at Carlisle last time out. Just shows what I know, but he does have a touch of class.
Backmersackme heads the market for Emmet Mullins, and he and Brave Fortune are much respected, but I have backed ONE BIG BANG (Each-Way) on what is a big day for James Owen, given I am also keen on one of his in the Juvenile Handicap Hurdle.
One Big Bang finished over 3l behind Wade Out at Cheltenham over 3m1f on soft ground back in November, and I remember thinking post-race the winner would never beat the second again over fences. The selection is 5lbs better off with Olly Murphy's grey this afternoon and is a much bigger price. I loved the way he jumped both at Cheltenham and at Southwell when he made all and easily landed the odds.
Having made all over 3m at Southwell, it was something of a surprise to see him held up back in trip at Doncaster on his next start when he finished third. He was only dropped 1lb for the run – the handicapper could see what I did – but it was a useful experience, and Owen has kept his powder dry since that run in January.
All ground comes alike to the grey, although his trainer believes good ground suits him more than the soft and heavy ground he raced on over timber. I would imagine this race has been the primary objective since his second to Wade Out at the November meeting. There was 20/1 available earlier in the week but he is a best price of 18s at the time of writing – generally 16s.
Recommendation: One Big Bang (Each-Way) - 18/1 with BetGoodwin (4 places) (NRNB)
Martin Pipe Handicap - Sonigino (Each-Way)
Sonigino has not been entered for the Coral Cup, so anyone who backed the antepost selection will already have had their money refunded, given it was NRNB. He has been entered for the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle, and my thoughts below can be transferred to the Festival finale on the Friday, with Freddie Keighley or Freddie Gingell likely to ride.
Note the nine-year-old has been entered to run at Kempton (2m5f) on Saturday, 21 February, with the weights for the Festival handicaps published next week. He may need to win to be guaranteed a run in the race.
I have been inundated – well, two – with requests for an antepost selection for the forthcoming Cheltenham Festival and, with the meeting now just four weeks away and many of the major bookmakers going NRNB, I have decided to dip my toe in the water.
A rating of 131 was needed to get into the Coral Cup in 2025, and SONIGINO (Each-Way) is rated 132 and is 11lbs lower in the weights than when sent off 16/1 for the Martin Pipe of 2025, when he carried 11st 10lbs but disappointed on heavy ground. Granted, on better ground, I expect him to be a different proposition next month.
His Cheltenham record isn't great, 8-4-PU, but his fourth in the Greatwood Hurdle of 2023 from a 5lbs higher mark is very good form, and I thought he ran a terrific race at Musselburgh last time when he jumped and travelled like a very well-handicapped horse under Freddie Gingell, but failed to stay three miles. His penultimate run at Sandown has been given a boost by the subsequent win of runner-up and stablemate Henri The Second, who is now rated 11lbs higher in the weights.
He is guaranteed a better pace to chase at Cheltenham in the Martin Pipe – the Festival finale - and do remember Paul Nicholls napped him as his best chance of a winner at the two-day meeting at Musselburgh, and the Ditcheat trainer had three winners over the two days.
Antepost Recommendation: Sonigino (Each-Way) - 66/1 with Coral (NRNB)
Brown Advisory Novices' Chase - Wendigo (Each-Way)
My second Cheltenham Festival antepost selection is WENDIGO (Each-Way) at 7/1 (non-runner no bet) for the Grade 1 Brown Advisory Novices' Chase at 2:00pm on Wednesday 11th March.
The selection finished fifth, beaten 8l in last year's Grade 1 3m Albert Bartlett Novice Hurdle and is held by the mare The Big Westerner, who finished a two-and-a-half length second to the Willie Mullins-trained winner Jasmin De Vaux. The mare is considered the chief threat to Wendigo, but at the time of writing, the Henry De Bromhead yard remains quiet by their own lofty standards, although they do have a knack of getting them right for the big day.
I do not think The Big Westerner will shorten from her current odds of 5/1, and she has the alternative of the Mares' Chase, although connections have nominated the 3m trip of the Brown Advisory as her Festival target.
Wendigo has only won two of his four chase starts, but he has only had his optimum conditions – 3m on a left-hand track - once previously, and that resulted in a facile 22l Kelso success last time, although that was an uncompetitive heat that saw him returned at 1/5.
I came away from the Grade 1 Kauto Star Novice Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day thinking the first two, Kitzbuhel and Thomas Mor, would never beat Wendigo again, as the latter was ill at ease on the fast ground and right-hand track. The winner blotted his copybook at Sandown when coming down at the open ditch in the home straight, while the second must go right-handed, and he is due to run in the Reynoldstown at Ascot this weekend.
Wendigo would have finished a couple of lengths closer to The Big Westerner at Cheltenham last year had he not got involved in scrimmaging – great word, I should use it more often – after two out in the Albert Bartlett, and this sound jumper goes on all ground, although soft or good to soft would be ideal.
Final Demand heads the market at 7/2 and is one of the reasons I am keen to have a bet in the race, as I was unimpressed with his Limerick Grade 1 success at Christmas, and he again looked laboured when third at Leopardstown to stablemate Kaid d'Authie at the Dublin Racing Festival over 2m5f+. He did win his sole point over 3m and a 2m6f Grade 1 Novice Hurdle, but he has never run over three miles under rules.
I appreciate Willie Mullins – who has saddled the winner three times in the last five years - should know where he stands with Wendigo through Kitzbuhel, but I am putting a line through the selection's Kempton run. I would take Wendigo and The Big Westerner over Final Demand and Kaid D'Authie, that is for sure.
In the last decade, only one horse (Lecky Watson 20/1 in 2025) has been returned a double-figure price for this Grade 1 Novice Chase, and there have been five winning favourites.
Recommendation: Wendigo (Each-Way) - 7/1 with bet365 (NRNB)
*Betting odds correct at the time of publication. All odds are subject to changes.
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Charlie McCann’s Horses to Follow
Last updated, Monday 30 June
Blue Bolt (Three-year-old filly trained by Andrew Balding)
Blue Bolt was beaten more than 5L on her racecourse debut over 7f at Southwell on debut but she has looked a different proposition on turf, with that experience under her belt, winning both starts over a mile at Windsor and Newbury.
Her latest success in a valuable Novice under Colin Keane suggested she was ready for a step up in grade and she holds an entry in the listed Coral Distaff on Eclipse Day at Sandown.
Her Group 1 entry Matron Stakes at Leopardstown in September suggests connections are taking it slowly slowly with this daughter of Blue Point - no entry in next week’s Falmouth Stakes - but I am convinced she is at least up to listed level.
Keane was jockey up on the filly as soon as the entries were announced and both turf wins have been gained on good or faster ground. There is a possibility of a shower on Wednesday morning, but the forecast is set fair for the rest of the week.
Gunship (Three-year-old trained by James Ferguson)
Gunship was not guaranteed on breeding to appreciate the step up to a mile-and-a-half at Royal Ascot and so it proved with the dual tapeta winner fading from two out in the King George V Stakes.
It is possible that the Sea The Stars colt will always be a better horse on the all-weather, but he travelled as well as anything save winner Merchant at the Royal meeting. We will know more about his long-term prospects after his next start which is likely to be at Newmarket on the Friday of their July Cup meeting.
That bet365 sponsored contest is one of the hottest three-year-old 10f handicaps of the season and he needs ten to come out to be guaranteed a run, but he remains a colt with plenty more to come, and his next start should tell us whether his best days lie solely on an artificial surface.
The form of his previous three quarters of a length defeat of War Hawk at Newmarket has been franked by the runner up who has since won at Chester and Epsom. He would meet Gunship on 6lbs worse terms if they both faced the starter on the July course.
Midnight Tango (Two-year-old trained by Ed Walker)
Midnight Tango really ought to have won the listed Empress Stakes at Newmarket (July) at the end of June when Kieran Shoemark tried to come from last to first on the wrong side of the track. She passed six of her seven rivals in the last couple of furlongs, and I wonder if the jockey will consider it one that got away.
She has only got a modest Hamilton success to her name, but she is held in some regard by Ed Walker, and she is up to at least listed class. It would be no surprise if she landed a Group race between now and the end of the season with something like the Lowther at York’s Ebor meeting under consideration.
Charles Darwin (Two-year-old trained by Aidan O’Brien)
The “lads” at Ballydoyle nominated Albert Einstein as their Coventry horse over 6f at Royal Ascot after making it two out of two in the Marble Stakes at the Curragh. That left Charles Darwin as their Norfolk representative after his fluent Naas win at the minimum trip.
When Albert Einstein was a late defector ahead of the Coventry, connections gave Gstaad the green light to run on the opening day and left Charles Darwin in the Norfolk rather than “upgrade” him to the Coventry which is widely considered the premier juvenile race of the meeting.
Gstaad duly bolted up by 3l in the Coventry while Charles Darwin landed Thursday’s Norfolk by more than 2l hitting the line hard and giving every impression he would relish another furlong. Aidan O’Brien, it would appear, already has the three best juvenile colts in Europe and it will be fascinating to see how connections keep them apart.
If there is a batting order at present, you feel the yard consider 1) Albert Einstein 2) Charles Darwin and 3) Gstaad. Charles Darwin has the physique of a four-year-old let alone a two-year-old and a crack at the Group 1 Nunthorpe over 5f at York in August was muted given the weight-for-age allowance juveniles receive against their elders.
I would prefer the son of No Nay Never to step back up to six furlongs next time, but you get the impression that Albert Einstein will dictate and be campaigned as the yard’s number one until results say otherwise.
As a half-brother to the yard’s dual Group1 winning juvenile Blackbeard, Charles Darwin is not guaranteed to train on next term, but I am convinced he will win at the top table between now and the end of the season.
Aeronautic (Four-year-old trained by Joseph O’Brien)
The lightly- raced Aeronautic finished fifth in the 1m6f Copper Horse Stakes on the opening day of Royal Ascot for Joseph O’Brien who endured such a frustrating week.
The stable had four winners in Ireland on Saturday, and most of their Ascot team ran terrific races in defeat with six finishing in the first four of their respective races.
Aeronautic was no match for French Master at Ascot but ran a cracking race on the quickest ground he has encountered to date. He was beaten less than 4l in the Copper Horse over that mile-and-three-quarter trip and I wonder if connections will consider dropping him back in distance at some time given how well he travelled on that occasion.
After just six career starts the son of Gleneagles has a big race in him between now and the end of the season. The Ebor and Melbourne Cup were races connections may have had in mind for the gelding had he won at Ascot, but I am still convinced there is a big pot to be had with the gelding this term and he won’t go up the weights for finishing fifth.
Classic Encounter (Three-year-old trained by George Boughey)
Classic Encounter was weak in the market, then backed near the off at Newcastle on his first start for George Boughey and belated seasonal reappearance.
He was squeezed out at the start of that hot Novice contest before making good late headway into a never nearer fifth over a mile.
That should have blown the cobwebs away, and I expect him to be more forcefully ridden next time. He will get further than a mile and looks the type to win a maiden/novice on turf in the short turn while he may be eased a couple of pounds from his mark of 82.
He is very much one to keep onside in the months ahead.
Charming Whisper (Three-year-old trained by Charlie McBride)
I appreciate you can go skint backing horses who have been unlucky, but I feel Charming Whisper should have won his last four races for Newmarket handler Charlie McBride.
A winner of two-mile handicaps from marks of 72 and 74 in June, the gelding has met trouble in-running from his last couple of starts over the Bunbury Mile and at Brighton - not convinced he was in love with the track - and I feel he is more than capable of defying his current rating of 80.
A stiff mile on good or faster ground are his optimum conditions, and he is one to keep on the right side of in the short term.
Ride The Thunder (Two-year-old trained by Roger Varian)
He cost 400,000 gns as a yearling and went into my tracker when recovering £1700 of his purchase price when finishing second in a Doncaster Novice to God Of War - had previous experience - on debut over seven furlongs.
I appreciate that the Varian yard lacks consistency, but I will be disappointed if this inmate does not go one better next time. The step up to a mile is likely to suit going forward, although 7f looks his trip in the short term.
Jagwar (Five-year-old trained by Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero)
Jagwar ran with the choke out at Uttoxeter in their competitive 2m 4f handicap hurdle last weekend and a blunder two out put paid to his chance. He was beaten 10L at the line, but he travelled like a well-handicapped horse for much of the race and the hope is that he will eventually cut out the jumping issues that have blunted his progression to this point. He was dropped 1lb to a mark of 118 by the handicapper after Uttoxeter.
Better ground should suit this spring and I wonder if he might be worth a try back at the minimum trip. The conditional jockeys’ event at Aintree might enter calculations at next month’s National meeting.
Merry Monty (Seven-year-old trained by Chris Down)
Merry Monty looked the type to improve for the switch to fences, and he shaped with considerable promise on his chase debut at Exeter over 2m 3f on New Year’s Day, giving every indication that he would improve again when stepped up in trip.
The gelding showed his first form when runner up - also at Exeter - on his penultimate start over timber when he jumped his hurdles as if he had been previously schooled over fences. He is likely to be nudged up the weights from his mark of eighty, but he would have won at Exeter granted another twenty yards, and I will be disappointed if he isn’t bordering on three figures by the end of the season.
Frederick Daly (7lb Claimer)
It is rare to be as impressed with a jockey, especially one who arguably won by too far, having his first ride under rules. Still, I was blown away by the quiet style of amateur Daly, who rode Golden Shot to win the amateur riders’ event at Ffos Las on Monday for Sir Mark Prescott. As Ian Bishop might have said: “Frederick Daly - remember the name”.
The 16-year-old was as polished in his postrace interview with Sky Sports Racing as he was in the saddle, and he suggested that he would spend little time as an amateur and would soon be turning professional.
His 7lb claim is likely to prove very popular when that happens. However, you get the impression that his father, who I remember as a former assistant trainer in Newmarket, and Sir Mark Prescott will manage his progression diligently as he works through his claim.
It might be daft to draw such conclusions after just the one ride, and he never had to get serious on the 29L winner, but there was just something about his style that suggested he was no ordinary amateur jockey. I, for one, will be monitoring his progress and will take note to see if other trainers book the jockey for similar contests in the short term.
Royal Rhyme (Three-year-old trained by Karl Burke)
Goodwood was largely a disappointment, with the rain putting a dampener on proceedings on and off the track. The week was summed up when the last three races were abandoned on the Saturday as the rain returned in spades.
On the track, the highlights were the continued brilliance of Paddington in the Sussex Stakes on Wednesday, but he must play second fiddle to Royal Rhyme, who showed himself to be a Group horse when running away with what is invariably a competitive three-year-old handicap.
The handicapper has seen fit to raise him 13lbs to a mark of 108 for his six-and-a-half length romp, while his winning time was three seconds quicker than that clocked by Al Husn in the Group 1 Nassau Stakes later in the card. His record on soft ground reads played three won three, with those successes coming by an aggregate of 12 lengths.
He remains one to keep on side granted soft ground this autumn. His stablemate Triple Time, likely to reappear at Deauville on Sunday, did us a huge favour when landing the Queen Anne at Royal Ascot at 33/1. Royal Rhyme is currently the same price for the Champion Stakes with Ladbrokes and Coral at Newmarket in October. Granted soft ground, he certainly won’t be that price if he faces the starter.
Diamond Ri (Four-year-old trained by Joe Tizzard)
Diamond Ri tanked through a Warwick Bumper on his racecourse debut to score by a long-looking thirteen lengths. The winning time was five-and-a-half seconds than the first division half an hour later.
The Tizzard yard does not have too many Bumper winners, but the yard can dare to dream over the summer that they have something to go to war with as a novice hurdler next term. His win came on soft ground, and his action and breeding suggest plenty of cut will suit going forward. Not one for the short term, but one for next season.
About Charlie McCann
Seven years as talkSPORT racing correspondent/tipster who recently spent over a decade as Director Of PR/Communications for a couple of leading igaming operators.
Failed cricketer - I regularly bore people, myself included, with the story about how I caught Imran Khan when 12th Man for Lancashire v Sussex as a youth - former National League Basketball player - once scored 72 points in a game - and lifelong and long-suffering Everton supporter.
Many of my old friends - and I mean old - would tell you I was a better footballer than a cricketer - but cricket was my first love.
Horse racing has long been my passion - ironic as I’ll never pass the vet again as my sports injuries have come back to bite - with my specialism handicap chases over jumps and 1m+ handicaps on the level.
I have met many of the great and good in the game and consider myself to have been very fortunate. Please always bet within your means and never chase your losses.
Be Lucky.
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