toteplacepot At totesport.com Novice Auction Stakes (Plus 10)

Off time: 18:12 | Winning time: 1m 1.12s

(4)

Blessed To Empress¹³

Age: 2| Weight: 9-3| J: Lemos De Souza| T: Miss A Murphy| CD

12/1

Cost 17,000 gns as a yearling. Daughter of Holy Roman Emperor out of a dam who won over 5f. Made all to score here on debut before finding a step up in class and soft ground beyond her. This remains a better class event than the one she won.

Form: 10

(1)

Emilia James²²

Age: 2| Weight: 9-3| J: R L Moore| T: C & M Johnston| D

8/13

Form of her Beverley victory does not amount to much but she shaped well from a poor draw in the Lily Agnes Stakes at Chester. She was unable to use the early speed she showed at Beverley on that occasion but ought to be able to get out and dominate in this company.

Form: 214

(3)

Queen Of Kalahari¹⁰

Age: 2| Weight: 9-3| J: Jim Crowley| T: C Hills| D

3/1

Recorded a good time figure when scoring in the mud at Leicester. Did not beat a great deal that day but this may not be that competitive either.

Form: 531

(2)

Monsieur Renard

Age: 2| Weight: 9-2| J: Adam Beschizza| T: C Wallis

100/1

Cost a mere £2,200 and makes little appeal on pedigree. Yard's horses have underperformed recently and he faces a stiff task.

Form:

(5)

Three Little Birds²¹

Age: 2| Weight: 8-11| J: David Egan| T: S Kirk

5/1

Finished runner-up on both of her starts to date including when not getting the best of runs here on debut. Closely matched with Blessed To Empress on that form and she has improved to finish third at Catterick since.

Form: 22

Forecasts

Emilia James (8/13), Queen Of Kalahari (3/1), Three Little Birds (5/1), Blessed To Empress (12/1), Monsieur Renard (100/1)

This should rest between the previous winners EMILIA JAMES, Blessed To Empress and Queen of Kalahari. The latter recorded a good time at Leicester last time but the form falls below the level achieved by EMILIA JAMES at Chester. Mark Johnston's filly did well from an unhelpful draw and had previously shown plenty of speed to make all at Beverley. Blessed To Empress and Three Little Birds are closely matched on running here a month ago. The former had the run of the race that day whilst her rival encountered problems in running. Amy Murphy's filly did win with something in hand and is taken to confirm the placings.