16:25 Epsom Downs

Sunday 26 September 2021

All13:5014:2014:5015:2515:5516:2517:00

Headley Novice Stakes

Off time: 16:33 | Winning time: 2m 9.74s

Settings

Selected odds by:

(6)

Chess Player¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-7| J: S Hitchcott| T: B Pauling

33/1

Modest maiden hurdler and similar form both starts on the Flat.

Form: 65

(5)

First Furlough¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: C Brace⁽³⁾| T: G Harris

300/1

Showed nothing both starts.

Form: 67

(2)

Aljasra United⁷⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Joey Haynes| T: H Kobeissi

66/1

Olympic Glory gelding. Quite prominent in the market but ended up well held at Wolverhampton.

Form: 8

(4)

Danville¹⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: W Buick| T: Eve Johnson Houghton| OR: 80

4/7

Best effort when runner-up in Goodwood novice 3 weeks ago after 5 months off, having no chance with the smart winner. Excellent claims of going one better under Buick.

Form: 4-62

(1)

Virgo¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Callum Shepherd| T: C Fellowes

11/2

38,000 gns yearling. Half-brother to 3 winners, including smart winner up to 1¼m Steel of Madrid. Well backed and offered something to work on when fourth at Salisbury, not knocked about.

Form: 4

(7)

Arrange²⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: David Probert| T: J Parr

8/1

Similar form both starts, though was 9 lengths behind the winner at Chelmsford last time. Improvement needed.

Form: 62

(3)

Pirouette Queen^b1¹¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: Hayley Turner| T: D R C Elsworth| OR: 70

11/2

Fair form on a couple of starts on turf but was below par on handicap bow at Sandown 11 days ago, albeit on heavy ground. Headgear now reached for and claims on best form.

Form: 004377

Forecasts

Danville (4/7), Pirouette Queen (11/2), Virgo (11/2), Arrange (8/1), Chess Player (33/1), Aljasra United (66/1), First Furlough (300/1)

Not a strong novice and a good opportunity for DANVILLE to open his account. He bumped into the smart King Vega at Goodwood last time and faces nothing of that calibre this afternoon. Pirouette Queen and Virgo can fill the frame.