Prospects bright for progressive Skye in Empress Stakes openers

STRIKE IT SKYE looks a star in the making and Mark Wallis' youngster can make it four wins in five career starts by taking heat four in the bet365 Empress Stakes over 500m at Towcester (2.52).

The January 2024 pup has won both her outings here and impressed last week when not being fazed by being denied the lead, powering away from halfway to beat Baroness Velvet.

Wallis can also score with Coronation Cup winner Fabulous Sonique in heat six at 3.29 but his outright favourite New Destiny could be value to oppose earlier in heat five at 3.11.

This is a rare four-bend appearance for the top class stayer, indeed she has raced over a trip such as this just twice since finishing fourth in last year's Empress Stakes final, and Kevin Hutton's Baroness Velvet on her inside looks a viable alternative.

She found Strike It Skye too strong last week but time will likely confirm there was absolutely no disgrace in that and the fact that she might move middle across New Destiny early also adds to her claims.

Graham Holland's Silverhill Freya, the Cork Oaks winner earlier in the campaign, will find things a lot less hectic in heat two at 2.16 than when tackling Wicky Ned and co in the Select Stakes at Nottingham recently and can lead home kennelmate Bockos Sapphire for an Irish 1-2 although Slick Skylark also has to enter calculations.

Singalong Molly, a Derby quarter-finalist for Pat Buckley over the course and distance this year, can open her account for Dean Blackbird at the third time of asking with victory in the opener at 1.57

The other heat fancy is Kim Billingham-Hine's Beatties Razl (2.33) while Wallis' Ballinakill Liam (4.07) and Patrick Janssens' Derby champion Droopys Plunge (5.39) can take one-off supporting contests over 270m and 500m respectively.

Destiny heads sponsor’s market for the bet365 Empress Stakes

NEW DESTINY is 7/2 favourite with the sponsor to add a fifth Category One title to her stellar cv by successfully dropping back to four bends in the bet365 Empress Stakes over 500m at Towcester. Fourth behind Avongate Venus in the final last year, she most recently had to

SIS RacingJonathan Kay

Star Pelaw has nine evening opens with Debbie Calvert's Busy Cailin sure to be lot shorter odds than for last week's slightly surprise win when she goes in the 7.42 over 790m.

Other non-maiden picks are Jo Atkins' King Morrison (8.16), Dean Blackbird's Killieford Goram (8.52), Tom Heilbron's Madabout Peck (9.09) and Glenn Foot's Moanteen Pudding (9.26).

The early Sunday SIS action comes from Doncaster and Valley with Debbie Calvert's Glens Lucky Dip (1.03) and Tony Morgan's Crokers Sista (2.03) the respective suggestions.

Sean McGuinness' Horseleap Lucy (3.22), Derek Kehoe's Slaneyside Clara (6.21) and Jimmy Anderson's Strike It Dolly (7.28) are Irish picks at Mullingar, Clonmel and Lifford respectively.

Silverhill Freya (nap)
T2 Towcester 2.16