Sunday Tips- 31st August

Sunday Tips- 31st August

Nine opens feature on Towcester's fourteen race card this afternoon and hopefully, a few winners can be found!

With the Bet365 Empress Stakes getting underway at the track next Sunday 7th September, there are a couple of trial stakes on the card which could give a few pointers to the competition.

The first division of those kicks off proceedings at 1.57pm and having created a striking impression at Monmore last Saturday, it wouldn't be a surprise to see Strike It Skye landing a quick double for trainer Mark Wallis. The January 24 youngster made it two wins from three starts when making all the running to score by six lengths on that occasion in 27.86 and a reproduction of that sort of performance again here would see her tough to beat. 

Kevin Hutton's Baroness Velvet won her only previous start at Oxford earlier this month though will need to improve on a recent trial here, so the biggest danger could arrive from Droopys Scratch, who has caught the eye when staying on well in recent weeks and from a good looking draw out wide, she could make her presence felt if close enough to the leaders rounding the final bends

The second division isn't as strong but could see Laurence Tuffin's Fabulous Riki getting her head in front. She was narrowly denied in her double bid in graded action last time out having previously made all the running in an open race over course and distance, and a repeat of that winning run may just be enough to see her back to winning ways

The 3.29pm contest looks to be real cracker on paper, with Kevin Hutton's Antigua Kestrel dropping back to four bend action after proving to be vulnerable in the later stages over six bends in the recent Ladbrokes Summer Stayers Classic at Monmore. He lines up against the Patrick Janssens trained Romeo Tomcat, who won the Pricedup.Bet Derby plate here on Derby Final night.

 Add in Michelle Brown's Gunslinger and Esther Driver's Quill Quids, both of whom won here last Sunday and makes for a really interesting contest, but preference on this occasion goes the way of Romeo Tomcat, who has a cracking draw outside Dean Blackbird's That's It Jack, who is sure to be heading towards the rails in the early stages, giving Romeo Tomcat all the room in the world and he could have too much for Antigua Kestrel in the later stages if that rival build up an early lead on the rails. 

Wallis looks to have a strong hand in the sprint contest at 3.49pm. Ballinakill Liam produced an impressive display of front running at Monmore last week and if he can produce a similar break in this field, then he ought to take plenty of beating though will need to do so in order to clear Vicky Lea's Brinkleys Samara, who has won his last four starts in top grade action and looks to be a threat. Wallis also has Kilmore Mohican, who has been off the track since making a winning debut over four bends here back in December and who moved well in a couple of recent trials and is likely to have more to offer.

Fabulous Heka surprisingly lowered the colours of Mongys Wild at Nottingham on Monday when making all the running in a track record time in the Arena Racing Company Select Stayers, and it would be a surprise if she can't follow that victory up with another success here in the 5.39pm. An early lead on the rails looks to be on the cards and if that's the case, then it would take some effort to reel in the Patrick Janssens runner

The best bet on the card though looks to be Romeo Force, who goes in the 4.26pm. Laurence Tuffin's October 23 youngster was a good runner up over course and distance last week, just failing to reel in the winner having walked out from the traps. If he can produce even just a half decent exit, then he ought to gain a clear passage round the opening bends, and in that case, he should be in a position to pounce on the leaders when rounding the final bends