Yesterday’s Review

0.75pt e/way Straight To Glory (100) – It was right to take on the short price favourite who still performed with credit in third place a length and a half behind the winner Do You Just (106). The selection never showed any early pace just over 4 lengths off the leaders for the first four furlongs of the contest. He could only stay on at the one pace in ninth beaten 4.75 lengths at the line. The first and second placed horses after the opening furlong stayed there at the finish in a race that was difficult to make up any ground from behind.

Today’s Advice

EMPRESS OLIVIA (6f Hcap) – The (3.10) Ripon looks an interesting contest considering most of the field are having their seasonal debut. The selection already has a run under her belt over the 5f trip at Catterick last week and a reproduction of that performance should see her go close today. She raced up with the pace on that occasion and kept on all the way to the line when shaken up over a furlong from home to go down by only a neck to the Ivan Furtado trained Rotokura Belle. A course and distance maiden winner last August she is well drawn against the rail in stall 13 today to employ similar tactics and the handicapper has left her alone following that solid seasonal return.

Jockey Rhys Elliott takes a handy 5lbs off and while he has yet to find the winner’s enclosure this year he has placed on 9 of his 36 rides so far (25%) and gave 28/1 outsider Dwindling Funds a fine ride last Sunday at Musselburgh to take the silver medal behind Noche Classica. Everything looks in place for another solid performance today and she looks the right price for a sporting investment.

0.75pt e/way Empress Olivia (6/1 William Hill, Betfred, Boylesports 4 places) 3.10 Ripon