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Essex Vase

T1 Roses Rockin
Early-paced performer but will need a flyer even from trap one with plenty of speed on his immediate outside. Lightly-raced over six bends and improving but has won only one race from five over CD and looks up against it.

T2 Judicial Academy
Dual Irish Leger finalist who won his first five races in the UK prior to this, but has failed to score in the event so far. Should appreciate the switch back to trap two, but while one to keep an eye on probably has a bit to find.

T3 Aero Majestic
Leger winner who left his first round form behind with an excellent run from trap one in the semis. Very dangerous if getting to the front early, but will need to clear early paced rivals on his inside. Has won eight of his 17 races over six bends.

T4 Emperor Leon
Strong running sort who has run his last eight races over this trip (winning twice). Appears badly drawn but is two from two in trap four over the CD and has improved since returning to Romford. Fifth in the Champion Stakes here in September.

T5 Westmead Maldini
Unbeaten in the event to take his record over the 575m trip here to five wins and two seconds from seven runs. Equally capable whether from the front or off the pace (flew home to get beaten a short-head in the Champion Stakes). Wider draw than ideal but won from trap four in the semis. Excellent competition dog.

T6 Hugo You Go
Another who made the Champion Stakes final and is also unbeaten here. Has won six from 12 over CD and looks well drawn outside five railers (also won from trap 6 in the semis). May have been under-estimated and could tempt value players.

Verdict
An excellent final with Leger winner Aero Majestic putting himself firmly in the picture after an emphatic victory in his semi-final and he would prove very hard to catch if getting away in similar style. However, he has plenty of speed on his inside and despite a wider than ideal draw, Westmead Maldini, a strong sort as he proved when getting touched off in the Champion Stakes, has an unenviable record here and looks the percentage call in a hard to call final.


19:40 Maiden Stayers
An unusual choice for a Sky race and one to tread carefully with. Trevi You Go has solid form over four bends here and makes his six bend debut, while Coolavanny Jane has been in good form at Sittingbourne but is untried here. Tentatively I take Droopys Trump, who has run well over CD to beat them both.

20:00 Standard
A race full of early paced types all of whom could crack out and make all on their day, but Johnny Dash could hardly have won any easier on Friday and with Diamond Cnoc not breaking lately could secure first run on the inside. Millroad Scolari is not the fastest, but looks the strongest in the field.

20:15 Maiden Marathon
Another maiden! But Skywalkershearer did us a favour at Wimbledon and has solid from over six bends here and is just preferred to Bubbly Swallow, who steps up after a good win over 575m here last weekend and rates the danger.

20:35 Stayers
If I'm right in the last race, it will be a good pointer to Droopys Minnie, who chased home 'Shearer' last time and made a good impression when winning a maiden here last month. She gets the nod over Risky Rosaleen, who appears best over a short six bend trip. Vet Mays Rocknroller has a good record here.

20:50 Hurdles
Baltylum Houdini loves it round here, especially when clad in the stripes, and can reverse Wimbledon form with Billis Renegade, one of three in this field he beat here on the last Sky night in September.

21:25 Stayers
All these can boast strong CD credentials over this 575m trip but unexposed Patterdale Cejay would take some stopping if getting anywhere near his impressive display in the first round of the Essex Vase. Diesel Malc seems best over a short six bend trip but will need to clear Clonlost Snoopy.

Selections
Baltylum Houdini 20:50
Johnny Dash 20:00
Droopys Minnie 20:35
Westmead Maldini 21:45

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