Empire to strike

ROMEO EMPIRE (7.22) can frank the form of last week's Regency final at Hove by toppling New Destiny in a brilliant heat four clash of the Ladbrokes Summer Stayers Classic over 630m, live on the PGR service at Monmore.

- by JONATHAN HOBBS

ROMEO EMPIRE (7.22) can frank the form of last week's Regency final at Hove by toppling New Destiny in a brilliant heat four clash of the Ladbrokes Summer Stayers Classic over 630m, live on the PGR service at Monmore.

The Summer Stayers Classic and Ladbrokes Gold Cup (480m) heats make for a superb all-open card at the Wolverhampton track and the Patrick Janssens-trained English Derby quarter-finalist can set his stall out for the £10,000-to-the-winner event over 630m.

He led Mongys Wild for much of the way a week ago before succumbing late on. However, this shorter six-bend distance can see Romeo Empire get first run on New Destiny, who could need the run after a spell off.