Time is right for Smooth Velvet

BARONESS VELVET (4.44) can help underline the ups and downs of sport when Kevin Hutton's precocious talent goes in the bet365 Empress Stakes, the feature event at Towcester today, live on SIS.

- WITH JONATHAN HOBBS

Hutton saw red-hot Magical Luka miss the break at Romford on Friday and fail to land odds of 1-8 in one of the biggest shocks in a major competition.

Luck deserted the favourite then, but Hutton might hit straight back himself with Baroness Velvet against another short-priced favourite in Silverhill Freya.