Sunday, September 21 - Hove and Towcester

Sunday, September 21 - Hove and Towcester 

*** ROMEO SPARTA (T6, 4.53 Hove)

** MYRTLE MINGER (T5, 4.34 Hove)

* SILVERHILL FREYA (T2, 4.44 Towcester)

All eyes on Romeo Sparta at 4.53 when the Tony Taylor-trained wide seed lines up from T6 in the A6 graded race over the four-bend 500-metre trip at Hove. Sparta has a vacant box in T5 and four railers on his inside. If he traps in best fashion, he can make his move down the back straight and take this race. On the bunny, Sparta is capable of dipping below 30 seconds over this 500-metre trip, a repeat of that would make him very hard to beat. Doubtful Honey has won two of her last three and rates as the danger from T3. 

Another for us today from Hove is MYRTLE MINGER who runs from T5 in the A11 graded race at 4.34. Myrtle Minger ran in A10 grade back in June but then went off lame. She’s run once in recent weeks and caught my eye staying on to finish third over course and distance. Today, in a race lacking early pace, the Gemma Byford-trained wide seed can turn with the pace and hit the front by the third bend and power clear of the chasing pack. Isthatok (T4) stays on in taking fashion and could be worth including in forecast bets. 

The £10,000 to the winner Category One bet365 Empress Stakes final at Towcester takes centre stage at 4.44 over the four-bend 500-metre trip. Silverhill Freya will prove hard to beat if the Graham Holland-trained Irish raider gets it right at the boxes and grabs the rails. Baroness Velvet in T1 has a chance with a ping break. Strike It Skye (T3) has impressed throughout the competition, showing excellent track craft and staying power. She would be a danger to all if within striking distance down the back straight.