Empire Fighting Chance Handicap

Off time: 14:00 | Winning time: 1m 2.55s

(1)

Irene May⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Tom Marquand| T: S Kirk| OR: 75| D

9/4

Looked a promising sort last season winning both her starts before having the winter off. Found life tough this year since entering open handicaps, but the switch to running against horses of her age group should suit. Still retains potential.

Form: 11-75

(4)

Lorna Cole^b¹²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: M Dwyer| T: W R Muir| OR: 69| D

6/4

Not disgraced of late, but she did post a more encouraging effort when beaten a head in a photo-finish at Ffos Las (5f; good) when last seen. Only raised 2lb for that effort and she should be bang there if in similar form.

Form: 645442

(5)

Country Rose^h⁵⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Raul Da Silva| T: R Harris| OR: 68| D

12/1

Should be able to find this much easier than when last of five in a Class 3 over C&D recently. Failed to beat a single rival in a pair of starts before that also, but this is by far the easiest contest she has faced all year.

Form: 067-795

(3)

Ever Rock¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 8-4| J: Laura Coughlan⁽⁷⁾| T: J S Moore| OR: 58| C| D

6/1

C&D winner in June but still 4lb above that mark, and she has posted a trio of quiet efforts in defeat of late. Drops back in trip to 5f now, but needs to bounce back.

Form: 113654

(2)

Bluebell Time¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 8-4| J: K T O'Neill| T: M S Saunders| OR: 58

5/1

0-8 and never looked a live threat over C&D when beaten just under four-lengths into third here last time out. Given another 3lb drop in the weights since then, but is not overly appealing.

Form: 84-2483

Forecasts

Lorna Cole (6/4), Irene May (9/4), Bluebell Time (5/1), Ever Rock (6/1), Country Rose (12/1)

A trappy affair to begin proceedings, with an element of trust needed to have a degree of faith in any of these. Despite failing to beat a single rival this year, this is less demanding than the assignments Country Rose has been tasked with this year, including when stepped up in grade over C&D recently. Plenty more will have been expected from Irene May this season, but she has only had the four starts overall and is another one who will appreciate the drop in grade. We'll opt for the most in-form contender, that is LORNA COLE, who went agonisingly close in defeat last time when runner-up to a well-fancied sort last time & should be tough to beat if in similar form.