Skye's the limit for Wallis bitch in Towcester Empress trial stake

STRIKE IT SKYE can put down a marker for the competition proper with victory in the top division of a trial stake for the bet365 Empress Stakes over 500m at Towcester (1.57).

Mark Wallis' bitch is two from three including a rapid maiden victory over the course and distance on debut and is readily preferred to fellow unexposed duo Baroness Velvet and Droopys Scratch.

Best bet of the day could come in a subsequent division at 2.52 which lacks the quality of the opener and looks a great chance for Beatties Razl.

Kim Billingham-Hine's bitch has some excellent form in defeat here, including a close third in a sales final in June when she led for a long way, and she can dominate these rivals.

Other Towcester non-maiden fancies are Patrick Janssens' classy pair of Romeo Tomcat (3.29) and Fabulous Heka (5.39) plus Wallis's Ballinakill Liam (3.49) and Kevin Hutton's Givemethemoney (4.44).

Star Pelaw has an excellent and varied evening open card with races over two, four, six and eight bends.

The proven stamina of Jason Ray's Intrepidity could be key in a 790m marathon at 7.42 with other non-maiden picks being the Glenn Foot trio of Barnfield Duke (7.58), Dreamin Porcha (8.16) and Emilys Superstar (8.34) plus Stuart Tighe's Winter King (7.24) and Matthew Watson's Bitzer Maloney (8.52).

There is early Sunday open action at Valley with Donna Davy's Loot And Shoot an obvious selection at 12.38.

Jimmy Gaskin's Redbrick Whitney (12.12) is the Doncaster pick, while Thomas Ivory's Delvin Man (3.41), Derek Kehoe's Slaneyside Clara (6.04) and Peter Hattemore's Chaotic Pershing (8.09) are Irish picks at Mullingar, Clonmel and Lifford respectively.

Beatties Razl (nap)
T2 Towcester 2.52