Architect Tuesday Racing Tips

Henry Daly’s 145-rated HONEST VIC (best price 9-4) is officially clear of these on official ratings and, having shaped with a lot of promise when only a neck behind Paul Nicholls’ favourite here when third on last month’s seasonal/chase debut at Chepstow, he’s strongly fancied to reverse the form on these much better terms under favourable conditions. 

He established himself to be more than effective in quality races last term, including when fifth in the Grade 2 Long Distance Hurdle on his final start in that sphere. Like many of progressive individuals who often find improvement with the fitting of headgear, this strong-travelling eight-year-old seemed to spark to the life with the fitting of a visor last term, landing the Pertemps qualifier at Cheltenham easily twelve months ago on return to action following a creditable fifth in last year’s Grade 3 Coral Cup at the Cheltenham Festival. His trainer obviously rates him extremely highly and pitched him in against some of the best stayers’ in the business including the likes of Paisley Park and Thyme Hill in the Long Distance Hurdle and acquitted himself well to finish an honourable fifth having cut out the early fractions. He might have been confined to only those two starts in that sphere but there was loads of encouragement from his introduction to chasing when tentatively handled to finish third despite finishing like a train in the latter stages. With more to come and his fitness assured, he’s a tempting proposition to open his account at the second time of asking in this sphere here with everything in his favour including being the best off at the weights when you take initial ratings into account. 

DJANGO DJANGO (best price 8-1) proved disappointing last term but he’s operating from a two-pound lower mark than when last successful, goes well fresh and is worth a chance at the prices, each-way. 

He was pulled up in the classic chase at Warwick when last spotted but better was clearly expected from him given he was strongly supported into 7/1. He’d previously bolted up in this grade at Newbury at the start of last year from a mark of 130 and is down to a mark of 128 here. The softer conditions will be in his favour and, although a revival is needed, his odds are just too tempting to dismiss him on this occasion so he's worth another chance to get back to his best as there will be no excuses this time around for his in-form handler.