The Evening Punt: Tom Collins' free horse racing tips on Friday

BANKER

(6.55 Hamilton)

The Lanark Silver Bell is a competitive handicap but trainer Mark Johnston has found the key to success with four victories in the last eight years and he can add another winner to that tally in the shape of Sapa Inca. Owned by China Horse Club, Sapa Inca has proved a model of consistency this season despite the fact she has moved up several grades, never finishing outside the first four in eight starts. The strong-travelling mare has really turned a corner since June, winning by five lengths at Newbury off a mark of 77 before having excuses (had to make her own running) at Goodwood when third just eight days later. She should have made amends at that track on her penultimate outing but didn't have a clear passage and then put in a career-best when winning last time out. A 4lb rise shouldn't stop her on that evidence and she should benefit from the way the race is run.

EACH-WAY PLAY

Blairmayne (5.50 Curragh)

Natalia Lupini's stable star Blairmayne returns to his favourite course and distance for this sprint and must go close at a double-figure price from a nice draw. The six-year-old has recorded form figures of 204384324106 in competitive, big-field handicaps at this track and is able to run off just 1lb higher than when last successful here back in May. A repeat of his penultimate start when sixth here should see him trouble the protagonists and you can put a line through his latest effort when he found trouble in running. This course specialist has a lovely high draw and the booking of Shane Foley is another confidence booster for punters.

DARK HORSE

(5.20 Curragh)

Aidan O'Brien has dominated the Round Tower Stakes in recent years and it's unsurprising to see his Lope Y Fernandez head the market given the strength of his Ascot and Goodwood form when beaten by Pinatubo on both occasions. However, O'Brien's runners aren't generally performing at their best in recent weeks and I'll happily take his market leaders on with Richard Fahey's improving and unexposed Ventura Lightning. Middleham Park's expensive ever purchase, Ventura Lightning has impressed me with victories Thirsk and Ripon to date and although this is a huge step up and his figures don't read all that well, he hasn't been seriously asked to go about his business yet and there could be any amount of improvement left in him. It is worth taking a punt at around 14-1 that he will make the frame.

Get free tipping content with The Punt from 8.30am and The Evening Punt from 4pm daily on the Racing Post mobile app and website