Andy Holding's Tuesday Racing Tips

Quite a tricky novice event as several have plenty more to offer, but there’s a decent chance that SCARAMANGA (best price 11-4) will find the necessary improvement in order for him to be competitive.

Very strong in the betting for his debut at Ludlow, Paul Nicholls’ gelding travelled like he was going to justify his position in the market for quite some way, but the combination of a couple of costly mistakes at the last two flights and lack of match fitness prevented him from seeing out the race all the way to the line. Time may tell, however, that the son of Mastercraftsman probably bumped into an above-average recruit in the shape of Petite Palais (entered to run in the Adonis Juvenile Hurdle this weekend) and as the time figure of the race was also useful, he’s given another chance to vindicated his high reputation.

MOVIE LEGEND (best price 7-2) easily brings some of the best recent form to the party and even though he has a little bit to find with Generous Day from their latest encounter, the combination of undergoing wind surgery and a return to one of his favourite venues might just tip the balance in his favour.

A winner at the Yorkshire track last season, Lucy Wadham’s gelding has been pretty consistent on the whole since and he ran right up to his best form on his recent start over today’s C&D when a creditable runner-up to the revitalised Bouvreuil back in December. His best effort, however, came courtesy of his third behind the very smart pair Hell’s Kitchen and Janika in a Class 2 affair at Ascot and with the fifth out of the race, Magic Saint, advertising the value of the form at Wincanton on Saturday, a repeat of that performance by the son of Midnight Legend should see his bang on the premises here today.