Tuesday tips: Memories of Silviniaco Conti and some each-way thievery at Wolverhampton

It was tragic news to hear that dual King George VI Chase winner Silviniaco Conti died on Sunday.

Everybody has their favourites, and with two high-class Boxing Day wins at Kempton where he simply took an iron grip of the Christmas feature it is only natural he had a huge following.

You think these National Hunt heroes have been retired but it is very difficult to know what that word means for premium athletes. It turns out the old boy was team chasing and suffered an accident.

There will be those who think he should have been stood in a field in his dotage, but injuries can happen to horses sat there doing virtually nothing - look at Vautour - and you would have to be fairly sure he would have preferred to be running around living life.

It is easy to forget that he was the same age as Cue Card, who has his last run at Sandown at the end of the month, and was a year younger than Bless The Wings, Maggio and Raz De Maree who all hold a berth in Saturday's Randox Health Grand National.

What made Silviniaco Conti such a great racehorse, for me, was his attitude in his pomp. He simply got on with the job from the front, a no-nonsense chaser, and wiped the floor with his opposition.

He was a beautiful jumper, too, and when he could boss a race, there was nothing that could touch him - it was brutal stuff.

6.45 Wolverhampton - Ventura Gold each-way at 14-1 with Betfair and Paddy Power:

I was hoping at a much less exaulted level that could well be the case with PC Dixon at Hexam on Tuesday afternoon, but almost an hour after the racecourse executive anounced a 9am inspection they decided to call the meeting off due to waterlogging.

I was all set to tip two more horses at Southwell as well, but this endless rain has claimed another victim so I am heading to the relative safety of the all-weather at Wolverhampton for the first selection of the day.

The 6.45 looks a decent heat and with a strong pace likey it is entirely possible there could be a pace burnout. Of the possible pace setters it is The British Lion who looks the most overpriced at 11-1.

Mark Johnston's representative won a similar contest when sent off at 7-2 in January and beat rival Ventura Gold, who was 25-1, hollow. Ventura Gold has subsequently won but The British Lion then ran a shocker and has now been gelded.

The British Lion is drawn well for the possible pace scenario, but all in all it may pay to stick with Ventura Gold, who is better off with The British Lion for his January beating, looks in good heart and will get a wonderful tow in to the race. Betfair and Paddy Power are 1/5 the odds the first four home, which looks outstanding. Betbright and William Hill are 16-1 but for just the first three home so it is up to you where you go.

Jungle Room, however, will also appreciate the possible fast pace and it may be worth having a saver on the shorter-priced runner.

8.15 Wolverhampton - Max Liebermann each-way at 16-1 with Betfair, Ladbrokes and Paddy Power:

If each-way thievery is the name of the game, then you could do a lot worse than Max Liebermann in the finale at Wolverhampton.

Queen's Vase runner-up and St Leger sixth Count Octave looks the class act, but his price of 1-3 in a 10-runner race invites the possibility of getting a payout.

Max Liebermann used to lead some of Ballydoyle's best up the gallops when with Aidan O'Brien and slammed a Jumpers' Bumper field at Southwell before shaping nicely in a maiden hurdle at Huntingdon last month. I tipped him that day, too.

Now back on the Flat, the son of Galileo should have no problems handling the Tapeta surface and can run well without winning at a decent price.

Geoffrey Riddle's Tuesday tips: