No way Collingham will bomb in Series
Musselburgh hosts a classy card with a series of finals for the Go North Series and it is Collingham who is taken to play a starring role at the East Lothian venue tomorrow.
Trained by Donald McCain and ridden by champion jockey elect Brian Hughes, Collingham seemingly has plenty to recommend him for the Go North Grey Bomber Series Final over an extended two miles and a furlong.
The four-year-old won a qualifier for this at Musselburgh in November on what was his debut for McCain having previously been trained in France, before landing another such contest at Catterick on his penultimate start in February.
He also placed in two more qualifiers as well as narrowly losing out in the Chatteris Fen at Huntingdon, going down by just a head to Kotmask with the reopposing Genuflex back in third. His most recent effort at Haydock is best forgotten as he was up against it with Porticello, who is probably Britain’s best four-year- old hurdler.
Beaten 46 lengths in the Victor Ludorum, Collingham was all at sea on very heavy ground, losing two shoes in the process and it is best to put a line through that effort with conditions set to suit now.
Wynford has fallen to an attractive mark ahead of the Go North Brindisi Breeze Series Final. Rated 133 when trained by Dan Skelton back in 2018, he lost his way a bit the following year and moved on to Lucinda Egerton before eventually transferring to the care of Rebecca Menzies.
That switch seemingly reinvigorated Wynford, who won off a mark of 99 at Market Rasen back in July before adding two Flat successes later in the year and while he was well beaten when third at Catterick last month, he is another that will appreciate better ground and his perch of 104 does not look beyond him.
Ravenscar can prove a fitting winner of the Go North Lady Buttons Mares’ Series Final for Phil Kirby.
The race is named in honour of the trainer’s former star and while Ravenscar is not of that calibre, her neck verdict at Newcastle on her penultimate run perhaps does not do her justice.
Flying Nun can chalk up a hat-trick for Emma Lavelle in Hereford’s Central Roofing Mares’ Handicap Hurdle.
Successful at Fontwell in January and Taunton in February, Flying Nun’s narrow verdicts of a short head and a neck have limited the handicapper’s reaction a bit and while she is 10lb higher, the switch up to three miles last time seemed to eke out a bit more improvement. Take Your Time let down his supporters last time but can make amends in the Happy Birthday Tosia And Lily Handicap Hurdle at Newton Abbot.