Emilie Looks Overpriced At Beverley

There is a bit of a lull in the flat season for the next week or so as all the top horses are well into their preparation for Royal Ascot. It is only a week until the festival gets under way and it promises to be an enthralling few days. Tomorrow's fare is not quite up to the same standard but I like the look of a filly at Beverley who should appreciate the return to 5f and to handicap company.

Emilie Bronte is trained by Yorkshire handler Chris Fairhurst and this 3yo daughter of Mullionmileanhour failed to trouble the judge in her three runs as a 2yo. Her best effort came over course and distance (good) when she was 4th on her 2nd run, beaten 7L but finishing a head in front of Sanaadh, a maiden winner on his seasonal reappearance at Thirsk.

Emilie Bronte made an eyecatching return to action on her handicap debut at Redcar (5f gd/fm) off a mark of 56 and she ran a much better race then her finishing position of 8th suggests. She was only 5L behind the winner and that was some feat considering how far behind she was at the halfway mark. She must have been detached by a good 10L but she really closed up in the final couple of furlongs under Andrew Elliott.

She flew past beaten horses in the last 100yds and if she wasn't given so much to do so she might have challenged for a place. The two horses that finished close behind her won a handicap and a seller next time out. The two that finished ahead of her, Whispering Soul and Lady Joanna Vassa, also ran crackers next time, the former beaten a short head in a handicap and the latter winning off 51. For a class 6 handicap the form actually has a pretty strong look to it.

She was stepped back up to 6f last time out on good to firm at Redcar and she was beaten out of sight. She raced much more prominently that day though and I think the 6f stretched her. I think she will be better suited by a more patient ride and Elliott is back on board in place of Fanning. If she gets a strong pace to aim at she could run a huge race. I am hoping that Bronze Beau and Roaring Rory take each other on up front and set the race up for a closer. If Emilie Bronte can stay in touch early on she could fly home late and hopefully she can reward each way support at odds of 33/1.

STEVOS' SELECTION: 2.30 BEVERLEY EMILIE BRONTE E/W 33/1