US racing tips: Tom Collins hopes a mile will suit his Thistledown selection

Our Petition
7.50 Thistledown
1pt each-way

It is hard to be confident about any runner on a wide-open card at Thistledown on Tuesday, but the most interesting horse at the Ohio track is definitely Our Petition, who looks a worthy each-way bet in the feature $31,700 allowance (7.50) contest.

This looks a wide-open 11-runner mile event and that is backed up by the morning line going 3-1 the field. Those towards the head of the betting – Golden Afleet and Often Enough – have the best form in the book but are inconsistent and it could be wise to side with one at a bigger price.

Danny Bird's Our Petition is the one that stands out despite a never-sighted tenth of 13 at this track at the start of the month on his return from a 120-day break.

He cost just $1,700 and was winless after his first 18 races, so he is by no means a superstar, but he was constantly tried in maiden special weight contests at this track and Mahoning Valley and appeared to be knocking on the door (four places) before he eventually broke through in February.

Our Petition broke slowly over 5½f that day but circled the field and challenged six-wide, before drawing away to win by a decisive six lengths. That was undoubtedly a weak race but he won in good style and a first victory clearly gave him a boost.

He returned to Mahoning just 16 days later and backed up his maiden strike with another cosy success, this time over a mile. Again slowly away, Our Petition showed good middle gears for the grade and surged inside the final 100 yards to get up by a neck.

Obviously his recent effort when virtually tailed off has to be ignored if you are giving him a chance in this field, but he wasn't suited by the return to sprinting trips (no early pace) and should relish this longer distance.

Importantly, he has the assistance of crack 5lb claiming rider Yarmarie Correa and should have a fast early pace to chase. His recent work indicates he has improved since his last start.

Place bets on international races with the Racing Post. Log in to your bookmaker accounts in the Accounts tab and then click cards to view the racecards