DARRYLL HOLLAND'S booking for Welsh Emperor (2.50) represents a crucial factor in the five-year-old's bid to win the £20,000 Sam Collingwood Conditions Stakes at Hamilton.

Welsh Emperor is a big bruiser of a racehorse, much better served by strong all-action jockeys such Holland, rather than the more streamlined aerodynamic approach adopted by the likes of Frankie Dettori or Kerrin McEvoy.

Darryll proved he could manhandle Welsh Emperor when the pair came within an ace of picking up a valuable Listed contest at York's Ebor meeting.

It was the classic nightmare scenario for backers of the selection, who under a brilliant tactical ride from Holland made every single yard of the running, only to be mugged smack-bang on the line by Polar Bear.

That race was over seven furlongs, whereas Tom Tate's sprinter now reverts to his optimal conditions, operating over an ultra-stiff six furlongs on extremely testing ground.

The extended one-mile Famous Grouse Handicap is a fascinating contest, not least because it brings together three horses, Creskeld (25-1), Nevada Desert (10-1), and Blonde Streak (8-1), all of whom have been winning naps for this column at the prices indicated.

With loyalties emotionally torn between the talented trio, perhaps the most prudent policy is to bypass them all in favour of the in-form Newmarket three-year-old, Zameyla (4.20).

Trainer Michael Jarvis and rider Philip Robinson, doubtless still on cloud nine after Saturday's big-race success with Rakti, fly north in search of yet more gilt with Zameyla, on the brink of completing an impressive hat-trick following runaway victories at Salisbury and Leicester.

At Bath there'll be some tired legs come the finale of the two-mile-and-one-furlong Letherby & Christopher Handicap, fancied to fall to Etching (2.40).

Etching is guaranteed to stay longer than the mother-in-law, so the marathon distance presents no problems.

There is also plenty of hope to be gleaned from the four-year-old's solid run at Redcar, where fifth spot in a red-hot race was a good effort after being off course for quite some time prior to that outing.

Another strong candidate to consider at the West Country venue has to be Otago (4.10) in the later Bet365 Handicap.

John Best's strapping gelding must shoulder a 6lb penalty for his win in a low-grade event at Brighton late last week.

It was a triumph which had much more to do with determination and sheer guts, rather than star quality.

Any trainer worth his or her salt knows this type of willing attitude in a racehorse is worth its weight in gold, and if Otago demonstrates similar resolve, he'll be in at the death scrapping it out for a second success within the space of four days.

Get more on racing at our Racing North site.