2000 Guineas Tips, Free Horse Racing Tips

Grand National 2011…A look at the Grand National Weights

February 16, 2011 By Charlie McCann

Director of Online PR Charlie McCann takes a look at the 2011 Grand National following the Grand National Weights which were announced on Monday.

Who are you backing for the Grand National? Maybe Charlie will point you at the winner of the biggest race in the world….

Fancy anything? Take an early price and get some value….Plus…Get a £25 Free Bet from Victor Chandler……..

VC early prices….Grand National 2011…….

John Smith’s Grand National: Prices from Victor Chandler: note ew ¼ odds 5 places.
Niche Market 14
Ballabriggs 16
The Midnight Club 20
Oscar Time 20
Notre Pere 20
Don’t Push It 20
Big Fella Thanks 20
West End Rocker 20
Backstage 25
Chief Dan George 25

Bluesea Cracker 25
State Of Play 25
Majestic Concorde 25
Merigo 25
Midnight Chase 28
Hello Bud 28
Synchronised 28
Becauseicouldntsee 33
Comply Or Die 33
Calgary Bay 33
Tricky Trickster 33
Character Building 40
Arbor Supreme 40
Taranis 40
Tidal Bay 40
What A Friend 40
One Cool Cookie 40
Silver By Nature 40
The Tother One 40
Vic Venturi 40
Galant Nuit 40
Ballytrim 40
Neptune Collonges 40
Giles Cross 40
Our Monty 40
50 bar
Paul Nicholls trained winner? 7/1
Jonjo O’Neill trained winner 10/1
Irish trained winner 5/2
David Pipe trained winner 20/1
Nigel Twiston-Davies trained winner 16/1
Who will go off favourite for the race?
Ballabriggs 2/1
Niche Market 5/2
The Midnight Club 4/1
Big Fella Thanks 5/1
Don’t Push It 12/1
West End Rocker 12/1
Oscar Time 20/1
Others on request

Filed Under: Horseracing News Tagged With: Charlie McCann, Grand National 2011

Charlie McCann’s Weekend Preview

February 4, 2011 By Charlie McCann

Charlie McCann from Victor Chandler previews the weekend horseracing action on Racing Diary….

McCaoy Rides at Sandown

Sandown stage today’s feature meeting including the 21-runner Heroes Handicap Hurdle which has been won by champion trainer Paul Nicholls in three of the last four years. Prince Tom is his sole representative and this lightly-raced 7-y-o looks to have been laid out for the race since breaking his maiden at Taunton back in November.

He looks sure to go close but in a desperately tight handicap preference is for Like A Hurricane (3.00) as long as the ground doesn’t deteriorate significantly between now and post time. The selection’s best form has been on ground no worse than good to soft and he looks to have been saved from the soft and heavy ground which has prevailed for much of the winter since his success at Ascot back in October.

Up 7lbs for that effort the selection will need to improve again given that was a much weaker novice handicap but he is less exposed than many of the field and as long as the rains stay away looks worthy of each way support at Victor Chandler’s current show of 10/1.

Heroes Handicap Hurdle; prices from victorchandler.com: EW ¼ odds first 4

Lush Life 6/1

Mister Hyde 6/1

Alfie Spinner 7/1

Kilcrea Kim 8/1

Like A Hurricane 10/1

Prince Tom 10/1

14/1 Bar.

The two Champion Hurdle Trials are uncompetitive events with reigning champion Binocular (1.55 Sand) and progressive stablemate Oscar Whisky (2.40 Ffos Las) having their final prep races ahead of the Cheltenham Festival. The latter also holds an entry in the World Hurdle over 3m and he will have to win well today to be considered a realistic contender for the Champion over the minimum distance of 2m.

Captain Chris looked ready for a return to 2m 4f when firmly put in his place at Newbury last time by Arkle favourite Ghizao and his tendency to jump slightly out to the right suggests that Sandown ought to suit. He is a potential improver but Medermit (2.25) also stepped up on previous efforts when trying this trip last time and the grey has previously hinted that he could go to the very top over fences.

Khachaturian (3.35) was recommended last week for the abandoned meeting at Doncaster and I see no reason to desert him in a lesser race against largely exposed rivals. At the time of writing Donald McCain’s last nine runners have finished either first or second so it would be fair to say his string are in good nick.

Adams Island (3.10 Ffos Las) was a game winner at Doncaster last month and with the winner having subsequently bolted up he must go close off a mark only 3lb higher. Preference is for Maktu (3.10) who ran a cracker in the Welsh National considering he pulled like a train for most of the race and with a good pace guaranteed he can give Pat Murphy a welcome winner.

The Henderson/Geraghty combination could have a field day at the Welsh track and Loose Performer (4.15) looks sure to appreciate the step up to 3m having lost out by a head on his hurdle debut at Doncaster. A winning point-to-pointer he is held in some regard by connections and ought to go one better this afternoon.

At Fontwell tomorrow the mare Guydus (2.50) has been bogged down in her two starts over fences to date but is considered a potential improver from the Venetia Williams camp. She is now 9lbs lower than when making her chase debut at Towcester and will have few better opportunities in a poor race.

The Irish Hennessy is the highlight on a terrific card at Leopardstown tomorrow with any number of stars on show including Mikael D’Haguenet (2.40) who has yet to win in two starts over fences but is still considered a potential Gold Cup winner. He is so talented (but fragile in equal measure) that connections are still considering this year’s Gold Cup rather than the RSA Chase if they can get him to Cheltenham in A one shape.

For all your sporting odds this weekend check out victorchandler.com

Be lucky

Charlie

Filed Under: Horseracing News Tagged With: Charlie McCann, Free Horseracing Tips, Sandown

Charlie McCann’s Weekend Betting Preview

November 26, 2010 By Charlie McCann

Denman bids to make history by becoming the first horse to win the Hennessy Gold Cup three times this afternoon and the former Gold Cup winner is a worthy favourite despite being 8lb higher in the weights than last year when he beat stablemate What A Friend. This year Paul Nicholls has five in the race and StanJames.com bet 9/4 that one of the five hits the target.

Denman - shock fall , hope for better

Arkle himself couldn’t win three Hennessy Gold Cups but only five of Denman’s 17 opponents are in the handicap. Sam Thomas who rode the ten-year-old to win his first Hennessy in 2007 and his Gold Cup success the following year regains the ride following the injury to Ruby Walsh who was last year’s successful pilot. His quick nimble jumping is likely to have many of his rivals in trouble from some way out, but I take a chance with Irish challenger Pandorama (3.05) despite the fact that he is 8lbs “wrong” in the weights.

The only horse to beat Pandorama to date is the brilliant but fragile Mikael D’Haguenet (more of him later) and the seven-year-old is unbeaten in three starts over fences including the Grade 1 Novice chase at Leopardstown when last seen back in December. The runner up on that occasion was the subsequent RSA Chase winner Weapon’s Amnesty so the form is rock solid and Pandorama gave every indication that he would be best served by going left-handed. His trainer has targeted a Grade 1 Chase over Xmas as his next possible objective and Noel Meade has never been one for calling geese swans. His lack of chasing experience is a cause for concern, but he will never carry the minimum weight again and he is given the vote in a wonderful renewal.

Hennessy Gold Cup 2010 EW 1/4 the first 4; prices from StanJames.com
4 Denman
6 Weird Al
7 Diamond Harry
7 Burton Port
8 Pandorama
14 Taranis
14 Big Fella Thanks
16 Bar

The StanJames.com Fighting Fifth Hurdle has been hastily rearranged from snowbound Newcastle who abandoned on Thursday afternoon. The forecast heavy ground at Newcastle wouldn’t have suited the Champion Hurdler Binocular (12. 25) but he should be more at home at Newbury where the good to soft ground should be ideal. Donald McCain’s Peddlers Cross won the Neptune Novices’ Hurdle at the Festival earlier in the year but he will have his work cut out against Binocular although the Champion is sure to come on for his seasonal reappearance.

Stan James.Com Fighting Fifth EW: 1/4 1,2
4-5 Binocular
11-4 Peddlers Cross
5 Starluck
12 Nearby
100 Bygones Of Brid

On the flat at Kempton Man Of Iron was a winner at the Breeders’ Cup in Santa Anita last year but has largely disappointed since and preference is for the progressive Dreamspeed (3.50) who finished 3rd in a decent Group 3 at Newbury on turf last time. His ability to handle the artificial surface must be taken on trust but he is taken to score from Nideeb who landed a similar contest over 10f last week at Lingfield. If he stays he will be a threat to all.

Fairyhouse stage a cracking card tomorrow with no less than three Grade 1 contests including the Grade 1 Drinmore Novice chase which sees the reappearance of Mikael D’Haguenet (1.50) after a 576 day lay-off. I have always considered the horse a potential Gold Cup winner and if that is the case he must go close. He was beaten in a chase in France as a four-year-old so does have some experience of the larger obstacles.

Solwhit is the one to beat half an hour later but I am a massive Hurricane Fly fan and was staggered when the horse met with defeat on his seasonal reappearance (at the hands of Solwhit) last year. He showed when winning the Grade 1 Hurdle at Punchestown (gained his revenge on Solwhit albeit by only a neck) that he is a top class hurdler and, although he lacks the race fitness of the likely favourite, his class can prevail.

Zaidpour (1.15) was hugely impressive at Punchestown on his hurdle debut and he is taken to give Willie Mullins another Grade 1 success in the Royal Bond Novice Hurdle and land the weekend nap.

For all your sporting odds this weekend check out StanJames.com or ring 0800211222

Be lucky

Charlie

Filed Under: News Tagged With: Charlie McCann, Denman, Fighting Fifth, Hennessy Gold Cup, Newbury, Newcastle

Charlie McCann’s Weekend Horseracing Preview

September 16, 2010 By Charlie McCann

Charlie McCann from Stan James is back on Racing Diary with his expert view on a big weekend of horseracing both north and south of the border…..

Poet's Place Wins Portland and Now heads to Ayr

The big betting race of the weekend is the William Hill sponsored Ayr Gold Cup the richest sprint handicap in Europe. Trainer Dandy Nicholls has saddled five of the last ten renewals and the Yorkshire handler once again has a strong hand with five of the twenty-seven runner field.

Dandy’s son Adrian rides three-year-old Victoire De Lyphar (3.20) and the last winner from the classic generation was Funfair Wane (also trained by Nicholls) back in 2022. He has been raised 4lbs since finishing runner up to stablemate Joseph Henry (runs earlier in the Silver Cup) in the Stewards’ Cup at Glorious Goodwood but looks well drawn in stall 24 especially as front-runner Jonny Mudball is drawn next door and looks sure to make it a furious gallop.

The progressive Poet’s Place was well on top at the end of the Portland at Doncaster last week and remains potentially very well treated despite his 5lb penalty. Trainer David Barron suggested on television mid-week that his 5-y-o was considered potentially the best horse he had ever had back as a two-year-old, but a series of niggles meant he didn’t see the track until four days short of his fifth birthday.

His stall in 12 is hardly ideal but he is considered the main danger to the selection. Indeed if the Silver Cup, which is run just over an hour before the feature, suggests a draw in the middle is not a disadvantage then I would recommend we split stakes.

Ayr Gold Cup: 1/4 the first 5); prices from StanJames.com

6 Poet’s Place

15-2 Hawkeyethenoo

8 Victoire De Lyphar

9 Jonny Mudball

12 Genki

16 Evens And Odds

16 Rileyskeepingfaith

16 Redford

16 Signor Peltro

20 Jimmy Styles

20 Bar

Ragsah (2.45) will appreciate the slight drop back in trip in the Gp 3 Firth Of Clyde Stakes having shot clear at the distance when runner up ( subsequently placed third) at Doncaster. Rimth looks sure to go off favourite, having finished third in the Lowther on her penultimate start, but the hope is that Frankie can get back to winning ways on this half-sister to the brilliant Dubai Millennium.

At Newbury last week’s facile winner Senate is likely to be all the rage for the Duty Free Stakes but despite doing us a favour last week he is reluctantly overlooked with the drop back in trip and poor draw negatives.

A chance is taken on Almiqdaad (3.05) who won the corresponding race last year and the blinkers that he has worn on his last three starts are dispensed with. Michael Jarvis has his stable in rude health at present and with a favourable draw he can reward each way support.

Tazeez will be a short price to land the conditions event at 4.15 but I hope he sets the race up for Fair Trade who hasn’t had the best of luck since winning a decent maiden over a mile back in the spring. I thought he would be suited by a step up in trip at Salisbury last time and the hope is that Tazeez gives him a target to take aim at inside inside the final furlong.

Newmarket stages a fascinating Cesarewitch trial and if Theola (3.30) settles in the first time visor she can come home too strongly for her rivals as she is an out-and-out stayer who will appreciate this severe test. I can easily ignore her penultimate start at Goodwood and she was finishing best of all over 2m at York last time. The additional couple of furlongs will help and as long as she adapts to the first time head-gear she must be a leading player.

There is a valuable sales race which Sir Reginald looks sure to go off favourite having suggested he was crying out for a step up to 7f in a similar contest at Doncaster last time. Owned by Channel 4’s Jim McGrath he must go close but I was taken with the winning debut of Roman Eagle (2.55) and he can maintain his unbeaten record. The selection holds entries in all the major end-of-season two-year-old races but connections have been swayed by the £111k to the winner!!

William Buick travels to Wolverhampton for one ride tonight; Biographical (8.20) is in the ownership of Princess Haya of Jordan and whilst he may not become one of the stable starts he showed plenty of promise on debut and is bred to appreciate the surface.

For all your sporting odds this weekend check out StanJames.com or ring 0800211222

Be lucky

Charlie

Filed Under: News Tagged With: Ayr Gold Cup, Charlie McCann, Dubai Duty Free Mill Reef Stakes, Free Horseracing Tips

Charlie McCann’s Weekend Horseracing Preview, 11 Sept

September 10, 2010 By Charlie McCann

Charlie McCann marks your card for a Classic weekend of racing, can we do a classic double? Free Horseracing Tips from Racing Diary….

Is it another St Leger for Frankie?

Another fantastic weekend of racing with the final classic of the flat season the Ladbrokes St Leger from Doncaster today’s feature and the Arc trials at Longchamp tomorrow.

The Leger card begins with the Champagne Stakes and Godolphin can follow up last years’ win in the race courtesy of the once-raced Saamidd (2.00) who romped home by no less than 7l on debut at Newbury on ground softer than the official description of good.

At the time of writing the ground is drying out in Yorkshire but rain was forecast for Friday evening and there ought to be no excuses on account of the underfoot conditions. Approve and Waiter’s Dream have superior form in the book to the selection, both having won at York’s recent Ebor meeting, but they may not have met anything of the class of Saamid. Approve landed a sub-standard Gimcrack and must carry a 3lb penalty and I’m not convinced about the merits of Waiter’s Dream Acomb win although it was visually very impressive.

Saamidd is currently 16/1 for the 2011 2000 Guineas with Stan James and that price may contract substantially if he maintains his unbeaten record this afternoon.

Frankie Dettori rides Saamidd and it could be a red letter day for the Boys-In-Blue with Rewilding a worthy favourite for the St Leger on the back of his stunning success in the Gt Voltigeur at York last month. Both Godolphin and Dettori have five previous wins in the classic but it is new kid on the block Mahmood Al Zarooni who trains Rewilding rather than Saeed Bin Surror.

Rewilding (3.20) never threatened but ran on pleasingly in the Derby when third to Workforce on his penultimate start and promises to be at least as effective over today’s additional couple of furlongs. Any significant rain would not be a concern and with connections are already considering a crack at the Arc next.

Midas Touch and Joshua Tree finished behind the selection at York although it was the latter’s belated seasonal reappearance. Jamie Spencer keeps the ride and he and the first-time blinkered Arctic Cosmos are considered the main dangers. No filly has won the race since User Friendly back in 1992 but dual-Oaks winner Snow Fairy looks sure to have her supporters.

St Leger 2010: EW ¼ 1,2,3:

11-8 Rewilding

13-2 Arctic Cosmos

7 Dandino

7 Joshua Tree

7 Midas Touch

8 Snow Fairy

14 Bar

The big betting race of the day is the Portland Handicap run over the unusual trip of five-and-a-half furlongs. Poet’s Place is a massive danger if the rains arrive but I just favour Deacon Blues (2.45) who has not had the best of luck in recent starts. Frankie Dettori (who else) takes over for the first time and Deacon Blues can reward each way support.

Senate (5.35) looked an ideal candidate for races such as the November Handicap when sluicing up at Leicester last time. He has been raised 8lbs for that win but he obviously relishes soft ground and if there is rain around he remains one to keep on the right side of this autumn.

At Goodwood Nationalism (5.15) is entered in the Cambridgeshire and John Gosden’s lightly-raced three-year-old needs to win to improve his chances of getting in the Newmarket race. The step back up to 9f will help and being by Pivotal any rain is likely to be a positive. Itlaaq is a danger returning to the track after three months off and he is another at his best when the mud is flying this autumn.

Over at Sandown Bramshaw suggested he was a winner-in-waiting when third, reappearing from a lengthy absence, at Kempton at the beginning of the month and with that run behind him he can land the 7f handicap especially as there appears plenty of pace in the race.

Across the Irish Sea there is a cracking race for the National Stakes with the winner likely to be made antepost favourite for the 2011 2000 Guineas. Aidan O’Brien has won five of the last ten renewals and he saddles three including Zoffany so impressive when lowering the colours of Strong Suit in the Phoenix Stakes last month but marginal preference is for the unbeaten Pathfork (3.10).

The Irish St Leger is a very poor renewal with eight going to post. Profound Beauty has never won above Gp 3 level but she is a worthy favourite although she must reverse Curragh Cup running with Tactic (3lb worse off) from earlier in the season.

For all you weekend racing check out StanJames.com

Be lucky

Charlie

Filed Under: News Tagged With: Charlie McCann, Doncaster, Frankie Dettori, Free Horseracing Tips, Rewilding

Charlie McCann’s Weekend Betting Preview

June 4, 2010 By The Hitman

By Charlie McCann

Charlie McCann from Stan James takes a look at the weekend’s racing. A big weekend kicks off with Epsom on Saturday….

The Epsom Derby remains the most prestigious flat-race in the world with its cambers and undulations making it a unique test for the twelve 3-y-o colts who will set out just after 4 o’clock this afternoon.

Throughout the winter the Derby had appeared a one horse race with last year’s Racing Post Trophy winner St Nicholas Abbey a very short-priced favourite. The news coming out of Ballydoyle during the spring was that he was something special and compared favourably with the other previous greats from the yard, but he failed to recapture his brilliance in the StanJames.com 2000 Guineas and it was confirmed earlier in the week that he would miss today’s race.

Aidan O’Brien will still saddle the favourite with Jan Vermeer the sole Group 1 winner in the race 2/1 following his excellent reappearance when he gave weight and a beating to his six rivals in the Gallinule Stakes at the Curragh. Jockey Johnny Murtagh will be looking for his 4th win in the race and whilst the colt may lack the class that, it would appear, exudes from St Nicholas Abbey every morning on the gallops in Tipperary Jan Vermeer has the best form in the book and deserves his place at the head of the market.

Jan Vermeer to win Derby?

That said there are many in the yard who feel Midas Touch will be the one to give O’Brien a third Derby following his win in the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial at Leopardstown although it must be said that Jan Vermeer already holds a couple of verdicts over the son of 2001 winner Galileo.

Sir Michael Stoute has suggested in the run up to the race that he would have preferred to have given Workforce (4.00) another race given the colt has only raced twice in his life. It is possible that this inexperience will count against him but I was most taken with his run in at York behind Cape Blanco (runs in Sunday’s French Derby) and he can give Stoute a third win in the race.

The Derby: prices from StanJames.com
2 Jan Vermeer
5 Workforce
6 Midas Touch
7 Bullet Train
7 Rewilding
12 Azmeel
16 Al Zir
20 Coordinated Cut
33 Ted Spread
50 Buzzword
66 Hot Prospect
150 At First Sight

The Epsom card opens with a competitive 10f handicap; Verdant (1.40) let his many supporters down from a poor draw at Newbury last time but Stoute has saddled the winner of this event in three of the last six years and he is taken to get Derby Day off to a flier for the Workforce connections.

Reggane (2.40) looked to be crying out for a return to a mile when she ran at Lingfield on her reappearance and her second to Ghanaati in last season’s Coronation Cup is the best form on offer.

Harris Tweed (3.10) looked a non-stayer at a mile-and-a-half at Newmarket last time, but the track at Musselburgh ought to suit and he looks to have a decent draw in stall eleven. The progressive Corsica has taken a big hike in the weights for his recent hat-trick of wins, but the grey filly Bebopalula is suggested as the danger in a cracking contest.

Prince Des Marais ran a stinker at Stratford last time and may have seen the race coming too soon after his excellent effort at Worcester previously. He has been freshened up but preference is for the Philip Hobbs-trained Loita Hills in Worcester’s 5.10.

Highland Knight (8.20) ran a great race behind talking horse Man Of Action at Newmarket last weekend and ought to go one better in tonight’s Lingfield finale although the draw could have been kinder to Andrew Balding’s runner. The return to a mile ought to suit and he merits this weekend’s nap.

For all your sporting odds this weekend checkout StanJames.com or ring 0800211222

Be lucky

Charlie

Charlie’s World Cup Update…

Filed Under: News Tagged With: Charlie McCann, epsom, The Derby

Charlie McCann's Champions League Preview

November 3, 2009 By The Hitman

Stan James’ Charlie McCann looks at the weeks Champions League Football Betting and points you in the right direction.

Get a free bet from Stan James.

Stan James Champion League Specials
Stan James are offering 8/1 that all 4 English sides in the Champions’ League win their respective ties this week.

Accumulators by Nation

8-1 Man Utd, Chelsea, Arsenal & Liverpool All To Win
25-1 Real Madrid, Barcelona, Atletico Madrid & Sevilla All To Win
10-1 AC, Inter, Juventus & Fiorentina All To Win
35-1 Bayern, Wolfsburg & Stuttgart All To Win
90-1 Rubin Kazan & CSKA Moscow Both To Win
15-1 Bordeaux, Marseille & Lyon All To Win

Tuesday’s Bankers
17-10 Man Utd, Juventus & Marseille All To Win
5-1 Chelsea, Bayern & Porto All To Win

Wednesday’s Bankers
13-2 Arsenal, Inter & Liverpool All To Win
8-5 Barcelona, Fiorentina & Sevilla All To Win

Filed Under: News Tagged With: Champions League, Charlie McCann, Football Betting

Charlie McCann's Weekend Betting Preview

October 16, 2009 By Carl Harris

Charlie McCann of Stan James looks at the weekends sporting and betting opportunities. Its a big weekend of racing with the Champions Stakes at Newmarket and with football and formula one on TV there are plenty of betting opportunities for us over a Sporting Weekend.

Horseracing Preview