14:55 Epsom Downs

Thursday 9 September 2021

All13:5014:2014:5515:2515:5516:2517:00

Emplas Express Jump Jockeys Derby Handicap

Off time: 14:56 | Winning time: 2m 44.03s

(7)

Byron Flyer^v¹²

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: W T Kennedy| T: Ian Williams| OR: 87| D

25/1

Useful veteran stayer who ran poorly in first-time tongue strap on Flat at Newmarket 12 days ago. Mark continues to fall. Visor back on.

Form: 55-6637

(1)

Aced It^t¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: S Bowen| T: C Poulton| OR: 85| D

7/1

2 wins from 6 runs this year, latest at Doncaster in March. Creditable fourth at Goodwood (14f) 12 days ago but needs to pull out a bit more if he's to defy his current mark.

Form: 411624

(6)

Songkran^p1²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: H Cobden| T: G Boughey| OR: 83| D

14/1

50/1, ninth of 11 in handicap at Windsor (11.4f, good to firm) 21 days ago. Application of cheekpieces need to have a positive effect.

Form: 433369

(2)

Koeman³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: C O'Farrell| T: M R Channon| OR: 80| D

16/1

40/1, again ran below form when ninth of 11 in handicap at Doncaster (11.9f, good to firm) 35 days ago, slowly away. Others preferred.

Form: 089599

(9)

Miss Mulligan²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-5| J: Nick Scholfield| T: George Scott| OR: 80| C

5/1

Course winner in July. Creditable third of 11 in handicap at Windsor (10f, good to firm, 10/1) 21 days ago, having run of race. Back up in trip.

Form: 439153

(10)

Valentino Dancer^p,t²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| OR: 79| D

4/1

Third in the Summer Hurdle at Market Rasen in July and continued his good work back on the level with a hard-fought win at Newbury (12f) last month. Should go well again.

Form: 3924/5-1

(3)

Edinburgh Castle^t¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: T Scudamore| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 77| BF| C

6/1

Course winner who has shown a fair level of form over hurdles this summer and should continue to run well now back on the Flat.

Form: 963233-

(11)

Tralee Hills^v²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: J E Moore| T: S Hodgson| OR: 77| BF| CD

9/2

Completed a hat-trick at Salisbury in July and again ran well when a close third to Valentino Dancer at Newbury (12f) last time. Sure to be thereabouts with a repeat.

Form: 511123

(5)

Francisco Bay³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: David Bass| T: E De Giles| OR: 73

14/1

Winner at Doncaster on return in March but was found to be lame when well held at Haydock last time.

Form: 4-16360

(4)

Berrahri³⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 10-9| J: Tom Cannon| T: J R Best| OR: 70| CD

10/1

Resumed winning ways with the aid of a good front-running ride over C&D in July, but was undone by 4 lb rise in the weights at Brighton last time. Eased 2 lb and won the last running of this in 2019.

Form: 841315

(8)

Ascot Day^p²²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-5| J: Robert Williams| T: B J Llewellyn| OR: 65| CD

33/1

C&D winner in July but finished last of 5 in handicap (4/1) at Bath (11.6f, good to firm) 22 days ago.

Form: 7-91235

Forecasts

Valentino Dancer (4/1), Tralee Hills (9/2), Miss Mulligan (5/1), Edinburgh Castle (6/1), Aced It (7/1), Berrahri (10/1), Songkran (14/1), Francisco Bay (14/1), Koeman (16/1), Byron Flyer (25/1), Ascot Day (33/1)

VALENTINO DANCER has looked better than ever in his short time with his new yard so he's fancied to continue the good work and follow up his recent success at Newbury. Tralee Hills is generally one to treat with caution, but is doing nothing wrong at present and should remain competitive, with Edinburgh Castle also capable of making an impact back in this code.