That said, there are small signs of improvement worth noting. The most recent run — a fourth place — was the best of the three, which at least suggests the horse is heading in the right direction rather than going backwards. After that effort, Marvel Magic has had a break of 54 days, which is long enough to freshen a horse up without losing fitness. Trainers often use a short spell away from racing to address something small or simply to let a young horse mature.
The yard handling Marvel Magic is that of Lucinda Russell and Michael Scudamore, based in Milnathort in Perth and Kinross. Russell is best known to many racing fans as the trainer of One For Arthur, who won the Grand National in 2017, and the operation she runs alongside Scudamore is one of the more respected in Scotland. Forty-seven winners already this season is a healthy haul and shows this is a team that knows how to get horses ready to win. When a yard of that quality keeps running a horse that hasn't placed yet, it usually means they believe there is something worth persevering with.
Marvel Magic is unproven for now, but three races is a very small sample. Some horses simply need time and experience before it all clicks. Whether that moment is coming soon is the question.
| Course | Races | Results | Last visited | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Haydock Park Galloping |
1 | 1 other | 30 Dec | 0% |
| Newcastle Galloping |
1 | 1 other | 14 Nov | 0% |
| Carlisle Undulating |
1 | 1 other | 3 Feb | 0% |