Bet365 Empress Stakes semi-final draws and outright betting market

Bet365 Empress Stakes semi-final draws and outright betting market 

The first-round heats of the Category One bet365 Empress Stakes took place at Towcester on Sunday, September 7, and you can read all about them HERE. 

Ante post favourite New Destiny was eliminated, finishing fourth in heat five at 3.11 with Baroness Velvet taking the race by a length with Chakra in second. The Kevin Hutton-trained railer was a 50s chance for outright honours prior to the first-round heats. 

The semi-finals will take place on Sunday, September 14, with the £10,000 to the winner Category One final a week later on Sunday, September 21. 

Following on from the first-round heats let's take a look at the outright betting market with sponsors bet365:

Silverhill Freya 10/11, Strike It Skye 5, Bockos Sapphire 10, Ballymac Kinga 14, Coppice Saphire 14, Indian Floyd 20, Singalong Molly 20, Barcardi Bullet 25, Baroness Velvet 25, Signet Morgan 25, Skeard Josie 25, Yahoo Mareike 25, Fabulous Riki 40, Makeit Lorraine 40, Beatties Razl 50, Chakra 50, Lilys Bullet 50, Arthur Minute 100. 

Speaking to Patrick Cooney of sponsors bet365 he had this to say about the outright betting market and semi-final draws: "Graham Holland’s Silverhill Freya is now our slight odds on favourite after her convincing win in a rapid 28.71 in the opening round. She also appears favourably drawn in her semi final heat where, granted a similar 4.08 sectional, should soon be ahead of her rivals. 

Cooney went onto say: "Second in our ante post list is the very promising Jan 2024 pup Strike It Skye, who overcame trouble in running to win in a very respectable 29.18. It won’t be easy in her semi final though as she is surrounded by early pace. 

Cooney added: "Graham Holland’s Bockos Sapphire ran with great credit when just over a length behind Silverhill Freya and is rated a real danger to Strike It Skye in the first semi final. 

Talking about the potential line up in the final Cooney said: "I suppose there’s a reasonable chance that the final may well be an all rails affair, but Indian Floyd (middle seed), Ballymac Kinga and Singalong Molly (both wide seeds) could well make the final and be each way contenders at their current outright odds. 

"There’s still lots to play for'' said Patrick Cooney from sponsors bet365. 

The semi-final draws can be seen below:

The first semi-final at 1.57 will see the Mark Wallis-trained youngster Strike It Skye line up from T4. The January 2024 daughter of Ballymac Cashout met plenty of trouble in the first-round heats yet still managed to win. She looks a nice type and is one of the leading contenders for outright honours. 

The second semi-final at 2.16 looks an interesting race with plenty in with chances. Solo wide seed Ballymac Kinga could appeal at a price. Patrick Godfreys Arthur Minute is always worth a second look in the market, she will be staying on well looking to grab a qualifying spot for the Category One final and is available at a huge 100/1 with the sponsors going three places and a quarter the odds. 

Irish raider Silverhill Freya impressed in the first-round heats and is one of the leading contenders for outright honours with New Destiny now out of the competition. Singalong Molly looks well drawn as the solo wide seed and could appeal at the price. Lilys Bullet will be staying on well and could grab a place and spot in the final.