RACING TIPS: Back Scuzeme to soar at Lingfield

The three-year-old showed very little indeed in two starts last year, finishing last at Musselburgh and at York.

Trainer David Barron drew stumps for the year at that point and Scuzeme was not sighted again until pitching up at Newcastle in January, when he ran out a very cosy winner of a moderate maiden heat.

Gelded in the interim, the switch to the all-weather seemed to suit this son of Kheleyf and he only had to be pushed on in the last 50 yards to take a convincing three-length verdict.

He cruised by his rivals that day and while it was only an average event, the fact the runner-up has since won perhaps gives the form a little more depth.

The handicapper has hardly been kind with a starting mark of 80 but Scuzeme, ridden by Phillip Makin today, is just the type to make sharp progress now he has found the winning groove.

SOLAJAN found only one too good on his racecourse bow and can go one place better in the 32Red-sponsored maiden.

Ed Dunlop's runner raced prominently that day and after going toe to toe with winner Dark Titan, he eventually had to give best by a head at the line.

He looks sure to win a race like this before too long and has Adam Kirby in the saddle today.

OUR CHANNEL did the donkey work for his stablemate in Listed company last time but the opening 32Red Handicap at Kempton's evening meeting should see him get back on track.

The six-year-old was beaten over 16 lengths in the Winter Derby Trial after setting the early gallop but, given winner Decorated Knight has since gone on to Group One glory in Dubai, that was a very strong heat indeed.

Our Channel had previously proved a bit disappointing in conditions company, so this move to handicap level – with Kirby the named jockey – could prove a good move from trainer Jamie Osborne.

Kirby continues a busy day on board HOLD SWAY, an eye-catching newcomer in the mile maiden for Charlie Appleby.

A Dubawi half-brother to Group One winner Charming Thought, Hold Sway holds an entry in the Investec Derby at this stage and should be making his presence felt here.

GOLDEN VISION can defy top weight for Dan Skelton in the Coniston Hotel Mares' Novices' Hurdle at Catterick.

A winner in France last September, the five-year-old changed hands for £68,000 in December and soon paid back a small chunk of that price with victory at Wetherby last month.

She made all that day and while she perhaps wandered around the track a bit, Golden Vision never looked like being caught and won with a fair bit in hand.

Golden Vision is conceding lumps of weight all round but she looks a class act.

BANDOL can inch his way up the ladder a little by lifting the Hunt Staff Charities Novices' Handicap Chase under John Kington.

With a rating of 96, he is clearly no world beater, but he does arrive here in a rich vein of form, having won three of his last four starts.

Successful at Worcester last September, Bandol could not follow up on that in October, crashing out well beaten at Southwell.

Simon West gave him a good few weeks to recover from that trauma and his patience paid off as he made a victorious return at Hereford in December before another break that saw him off the track until the end of last month.

Shrugging off a 6lb rise, he powered through really testing ground at Sedgefield to run out a stylish six-length winner, promising to deliver a little more in the future too.

He will obviously need to have improved to compete off his new mark – but it can pay to follow a horse in form in what is not exactly a strong event.

HOLBROOK PARK can make amends for a disappointing run last time by winning the bet365 Handicap Hurdle under Trevor Whelan at Fontwell.

The seven-year-old has endured patchy fortunes this winter, with a couple of reasonable efforts alongside what was a lacklustre fourth last time out.

Neil King's charge found little after the penultimate flight that day, when beaten five and a half lengths, but he would not have to be anything too special to win this event.