Friday Racing Tips from Andy Holding

COLLINGHAM (best price 9-2), other than one modest effort on heavy ground, has been a model of consistency since switched to hurdles and with several of his best performances coming over today’s C&D, his familiarity with the surroundings are likely to count for plenty in the final analysis. 

A winner at the first time of asking at the Scottish venue back in November, the son of Samum has gone on to run to a reasonably decent standard in victory and defeat since and with one of them coming courtesy of a solid effort in the Chatteris Fen at Huntingdon three starts ago, he easily brings some of the best form to the table. Not quite good enough on the day to match one of today’s main rivals, Inca Prince, the application of cheekpieces might help bridge the gap and with today’s better ground also seen as a huge advantage to his prospects, Donald McCain’s gelding can go close to provide his unstoppable handler with yet another winner. 

GUISEPPE CASSIOLI (NAP) (best price 4-1) must have delighted new connections with the way he went about his business on his first attempt at tonight’s track last time out and with the extra furlong he encounters on his return visit seen as a plus, Gerard O’Leary’s gelding can take further strides to claw back the 17k spent on him at the Tattersalls sale in February. 

A useful and consistent all-weather performer for William Muir in the UK, the five-year-old made his debut at the Co Lough venue three weeks ago and despite the complex nature of the 0-85 handicap, he ended up scoring in cosy fashion. Considering his wide draw and brutal trip he encountered had the potential to totally derail him, the fact he stuck to his task manfully all the way down the straight deserves extra merit, and with most of his best form for previous connections coming over further, confidence is high that he will be equally competitive this evening from a much more favourable stall position. 

MAESTRO STICK (best price 8-1) has form figures to suggest you’d be a madman to have a confident view on how he will figure here tonight, but there were signs last time that he’s not a total lost cause and, at reasonably rewarding odds, he’s worth a small each-way interest. 

On his first two starts since switching to his new surroundings, the son of Frankel patently didn’t get the extended 1m2f journey after racing way too freely each time, so connections were right to drop him back to a mile 32 days ago in a bid to glean a better result. Sent off 33-1 in what appeared a competitive handicap on paper, Ken Clarke’s gelding proceeded to get upset in the stalls and, as a result, missed the break, but after finding himself in a position whereby he was unlikely to make any sort of impact, he did catch the eye with the way he conducted his business in the home straight.

Despite not receiving anything like the rub of the green in the final two furlongs, the five-year-old finished off his race to good effect, and he left the impression he would have might have at least shoehorned himself into the frame with a clear run. Although it’s only a small snapshot of what might have been, he clearly harbours a reasonable amount of ability for a horse rated 42 – he certainly has the size and look of a better model – so providing he doesn’t get too fractious in the stalls and comes out on reasonably level terms, there’s every chance this substantially-build individual will outrun his morning odds.