TOWCESTER stages one of the best clashes this year in the second semi-final of the Bet365 Empress Stakes at Towcester today, live on SIS.
Three heats winners - New Destiny, Queen Georgia and Avongate Venus (4.07) - are all thrown in the same 500m contest and supporters of each will fancy their chances. However, preference is just for Phil Milner's bitch given her leadability claims - especially with Ballymac Camilla withdrawn to give her a vacant trap inside.
That said, ping-starts for either New Destiny or Queen Georgia will see these powerful sorts play a major part - Avongate Venus needs a healthy lead to win.
Just the first two qualify from today's three semi-finals so a star name will miss out from the second semi-final - 2022 St Leger champion Havana Lover is also in the same race - but Leighas Dream should make it through from the first semi.
The Nottingham bitch was another runaway winner of her heat last week and is well pitched outside, although will go off at prohibitive odds. For that reason, take a chance with Maxine Locke's likely improver Droopys Eunice (3.49).
A finalist in both the Newcastle and Monmore Puppy Derby finals this year, Droopys Eunice returned from seasonal rest with an encouraging effort in the heats and will be pacing up inside from a peach draw. Could be a value selection.
Nathan Hunt's Icemans Girl (4.26) has the speed and stamina to take some holding in the third semi-final. Another impressive heat winner, a snappy start is needed with pace inside and out but looks a real improver and timewise has real claims.
Incidentally, keep an eye out for Urlee Star in this contest. She flew home behind Avongate Venus last week and posted a good clock herself and could make the final.
Droopys Manowar (2.52) gets the vote in the earlier Towcester Sprint. A best trial time of 15.65sec for this 270m contest gives Maxine Locke's improving sort every chance of success, albeit clearing rivals inside and out is the first port of call.
Keylogues Runner (3.29) also catches the eye in Division A of the Towcester Maiden. Liz McNair is having just his third start and showed real all-round pace at Monmore - the Towcester gallop could suit the son of Dorotas Wildcat even more.
Division A of the Towcester Standard looks a cracking affair. Derby quarter-finalist Salacres Slick looks a huge player after last week's romp but can help make the market for Silverhill Adam (5.03) who is two-from-two and still improving.
Mark Wallis's two-year-old posted 29.17sec from off the pace last week and the way he held Havana Top Note, a strong sort, to the line was impressive.
Crayford once again hosts a batch of open races tonight with the feature event being the Ladbrokes.com September Maiden Trophy Final - Tony Collett's Hellofabullet (7.33) gets the vote with the switch the red jacket looking a positive after a good heat run.
Best of the rest at the Kent track are Necessary Evil (6.08) in the opener second time up for Robert Short after a solid debut win and those two Crayford big-race winning giants in Ricky Holloway's Dazl Rolex (7.16) and Dave Lee's Laughil Jess (9.16).
