Tony Carroll saddles two runners in this handicap that looks hugely competitive and although Luke Morris taken to the ride on Empress Leizu, she is one of many that have yet to confirm her ability on ground this testing and preference is for stable companion BETTER BE BLUE, who gets the vote with Man In The Mirror rated the best of the rest. The selection showed her best form on testing ground in Ireland and she may be worth chancing having had a couple of recent runs on the Polytrack that should have put her spot on for her return to turf on ground that suits. Richard Fahey has his string in good heart for the start of the campaign so Orpen Arms has to be respected first time out this season. Harry Dunlop's One Cool Poppy has only had the three starts so far and now makes her handicap debut but she will need to have improved from two to three to win this, while any market support for Securitisation should be noted. Being by Captain Rio, it is likely that Man In The Mirror will handle the testing underfoot conditions, while Empress Leizu is out of a Barathea mare and has to be considered but preference is for the latter's stable companion Better Be Blue.
Empress Leizu (IRE) 14-1 (7-11) Made all, steady gallop, quicken 2f out, soon ridden and hung right, kept on under pressure, won at Wolverhampton 1m 1f 2yo clm stks (6) pol in Dec beating Flipping (8-8) by 1 3/4l, 9 ran.
Underworld Dandy 12-1 (8-4) Led, ridden and headed 2f out, weakened 1f out, 6th of 7, 13l behind Yorksters Prince (8-9) at Lingfield 1m 2f 3yo clm stks (6) pol in Feb.
Orpen Arms (IRE) 7-1 (9-2) Chased leaders, no extra inside final furlong, 6th of 14, 8l behind House Red (9-4) at Leicester 7f 2yo hcp 0-65 (6) gf in Oct.
Sixties Rock 11-1 (9-0) Chased leaders, ridden to go 3rd 2f out, no extra inside final furlong, 4th of 9, 5l behind Marosh (9-10) at Wolverhampton 7f hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Jan.
Single Lady 16-1 (8-2) Dwelt, held up towards rear, pushed along over 3f out, never dangerous, 7th of 9, 10l behind Beneath (8-4) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f mdn stks (5) pol in Mar.
Firehawk 20-1 (8-9) Tracked leaders, chased winner over 6f out until ridden over 3f out, weakened 2f out, 6th of 9, 13l behind Venutius (8-8) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f 2yo mdn auc stks (6) pol in Oct.
Securitisation (IRE) 50-1 (9-3) Towards rear, edged left well over 2f out, headway 2f out, kept on one pace inside final furlong, no danger, 8th of 13, 9l behind Edinburgh Knight (9-3) at Lingfield 7f 3yo mdn stks (5) pol in Feb.
Mr Maximas 66-1 (9-3) Held up in touch, pushed along over 4f out, soon outpaced, 6th of 8, 16l behind Exemplary (9-3) at Bath 1m 2f 2yo mdn (5) fm in Sep.
Thewinnatakesitall 40-1 (8-12) Went right start, tracked leaders, effort well over 1f out, stayed on same pace, 4th of 13, 4 1/2l behind Liberty Lady (9-6) at Southwell 5f 3yo hcp 0-65 (6) fbs in Mar.
Young Firth 50-1 (8-13) In touch, ridden over 4f out, weakened over 3f out, last of 12, 27l behind Fine Lace (9-1) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f 2yo hcp 0-65 (6) pol in Oct.
One Cool Poppy (IRE) 12-1 (8-8) Chased leaders, weakened final furlong, 6th of 9, 9l behind Brooklands Bay (8-12) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f 2yo mdn auc stks (6) pol in Oct.
Moonlight Serenade 14-1 (8-9) Held up in rear, ridden and headway under stands side rail over 1f out, every chance inside final furlong, stayed on, 2nd of 11, 3/4l behind Belle Park (8-4) at Wolverhampton 7f hcp (0-55) (6) pol in Mar.
Zambuka (FR) 20-1 (8-6) Pushed along in rear, ridden and kept on from over 1f out, 6th of 11, 11l behind Don't Call Me (8-11) at Southwell 7f mdn auc stks (5) fbs in Mar.
Wavertree Bounty 66-1 (8-12) Chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 8th of 11, 12l behind Commissionaire (9-3) at Yarmouth 1m 2yo mdn (5) gd in Oct.
Man In The Mirror (IRE) 16-1 (8-11) Chased leaders, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 1f out, 6th of 10, 18l behind Wedding Dream (8-1) at Southwell 1m 2yo hcp 0-65 (6) fbs in Dec.
Better Be Blue (IRE) 12-1 (8-9) Steadied start, held up, in touch, ridden and headway over 1f out, kept on well final furlong, never able to challenge, 3rd of 5, 1 1/4l behind Tuscan King (9-5) at Lingfield 1m 3yo sell stks (6) pol in Feb.
Knowledgeable 25-1 (8-3) Mid-division, stayed on from over 1f out, 4th of 14, 5l behind House Red (9-4) at Leicester 7f 2yo hcp 0-65 (6) gf in Oct.
