July 17 / 18.30 Epsom

18.30

Good To Firm

Steve Donoghue Handicap

  • Prize money: £4448.9
  • 1m 0f 113y
  • Class 5
  • 7 runners
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Steve Donoghue Handicap

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

OUR TIP

Form: 667627

Last run: 57 days

W: 10st 2lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 68

Form & Verdict
0-10 on turf and winless on AW since February 2022, while he can often be slowly away; bolted before start and withdrawn at Chelmsford recently (15-2 at the time); comes with risk attached but it's early days with this yard and he's run encouraging races the last twice; not ruled out.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

1

(12)

18th Sep 2025

Standard To Slow

1m 2f 219y

Class 5

19:45 Kempton (AW)

Royal Pleasure

10st 2lb

J: Luke Morris

T: Karen Jewell

Produced a telling turn of foot to prevail in a bunch finish in a slowly run contest at Lingfield (1m2f, Polytrack) 15 days ago, ending a 21-race losing run; only 2lb higher, but steps up in trip again so his stamina will be tested further, especially if this is more truly run.

5/1

8

(4)

3rd Sep 2025

Standard

1m 2f 0y

Class 5

14:35 Lingfield (AW)

Royal Pleasure

9st 4lb

J: Cieren Fallon

T: Karen Jewell

Runner-up in two of his five runs for this yard, once at this track (1m); not straightforward though, often slowly away, and his stamina for this trip has to be taken on trust.

16/1

3/1

Form: 42-443

Last run: 15 days

W: 10st 1lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 67

Form & Verdict
0-6 but has run well in defeat in all three handicaps, most recently over 1m2f here in first-time cheekpieces (retained) when not seeing out the trip; could have a major part to play now back down in trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

12th

7

(14)

27th May 2026

Standard To Slow

1m 0f 0y

Class 5

17:25 Kempton (AW)

Tex

9st 11lb

J: Harry Vigors

T: George Baker

Very pleasing return from 275-day break at Leicester this month; lacked a change of gear at Newmarket (also 7f) subsequently and returning to 1m looks in his favour; draw hasn't been kind, though.

15/2

3rd

2

(8)

16th May 2026

Good

0m 7f 0y

Class 5

17:10 Newmarket

Tex

10st 0lb

J: Kyle McHugh

T: George Baker

0-9 but consistent last year and may well have made a winning reappearance at Leicester (7f, good to firm) last Saturday but for blowing the start (hasn't tended to be an issue in the past); key player.

5/2

2nd

5

(6)

9th May 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 0y

Class 5

19:25 Leicester

Tex

9st 6lb

J: Jack Dace

T: George Baker

Proved reliable without winning in 2025, signing off with a good third of nine in 1m Nottingham handicap in August; remains low mileage so not out of things on his seasonal return.

11/1

Form: 551-65

Last run: 20 days

W: 10st 0lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 66

Form & Verdict
Made all in fine style at Kempton (1m, AW) last October; however, he's failed to shine on his three starts since (one over hurdles and two on the Flat) and is 0-8 on turf on the Flat; others are more compelling.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

3

(2)

24th Jan 2026

Standard

0m 7f 1y

Class 6

14:48 Lingfield (AW)

Classic Speed

9st 9lb

J: Sean D Bowen

T: Brian Toomey

Two front-running 1m Kempton wins in 2024; belatedly returned to form when narrowly denied there (7f) in December but didn't come close to backing that up over 1m last week; blinkers are refitted now.

11/1

11th

1

(9)

14th Jan 2026

Standard To Slow

1m 0f 0y

Class 6

18:00 Kempton (AW)

Classic Speed

9st 9lb

J: Sean D Bowen

T: Brian Toomey

Two front-running C&D wins in 2024; little to enthuse over last year until a prominent market position correctly predicted a return to form when beaten a head over 7f here last month; up 3lb but still below his winning marks and looks a leading contender despite possible pace pressure.

5/2

1

(11)

20th Oct 2025

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 6

17:35 Bath

Classic Speed

9st 9lb

J: George Wood

T: Brian Toomey

Won over 1m on the AW last October but appears to have badly lost his way; opposable.

14/1

Form: 622129

Last run: 7 days

W: 9st 12lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 64

Form & Verdict
Hampered at the start and always behind here last Thursday; however, he was in rude health previously and has run well over this C&D in the past; could leave last time behind and play a leading role.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

5

(1)

9th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 0f 113y

Class 5

20:22 Epsom

Buy The Dip

9st 9lb

J: Luke Catton

T: Jim Boyle

Looked as good as ever when winning at Lingfield (1m, AW) on seasonal debut in April and again ran well over that C&D last month; didn't fire when back on turf recently (restless in stalls) but has form at this track and enters calculations.

10/1

6th

3

(5)

30th Jun 2026

Good

0m 7f 216y

Class 5

15:13 Brighton

Buy The Dip

9st 6lb

J: Pat Cosgrave

T: Jim Boyle

Has a consistent record here (32142132224) and has shown enough since returning on the AW in April to suggest he remains in form; should go well.

6/1

2nd

1

(3)

1st Jun 2026

Standard

1m 0f 1y

Class 6

14:07 Lingfield (AW)

Buy The Dip

9st 9lb

J: Luke Catton

T: Jim Boyle

Well suited by switchback tracks and took advantage of a handy mark when winning on his C&D comeback in April; found life tougher off his revised mark in better company here last time but this is more his speed back down 2lb.

5/1

Form: -36370

Last run: 34 days

W: 9st 7lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 68

Form & Verdict
3yo who was a fair third at Windsor (1m, good to firm) and a case can be made on that form, now 4lb lower; however, two lesser runs have followed and he remains a maiden after 11 starts.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

12

(9)

15th May 2026

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 5

14:08 Newbury

Jet Packer

8st 12lb

J: Tyrese Cameron

T: Jim Boyle

Still a maiden but he has performed encouragingly in two runs, albeit both on Lingfield AW in December, since having wind surgery; returns to turf for this reappearance.

10/1

6th

11

(4)

8th Sep 2025

Standard

1m 0f 1y

Class 6

15:22 Lingfield (AW)

Jet Packer

9st 3lb

J: Pat Cosgrave

T: Jim Boyle

Still a maiden after 15 starts but he's well treated on his peak form and was best of the rest behind Harryella over C&D 13 days off; has a big swing in the weights with his old rival and could be dangerous if he can back that up.

13/2

2nd

4

(10)

26th Aug 2025

Standard

1m 0f 1y

Class 6

18:10 Lingfield (AW)

Jet Packer

9st 8lb

J: Donagh Murphy

T: Jim Boyle

14-race maiden who has gone backwards since May, notably so the last twice, and can't be recommended at present; wore a visor latest start, which is ditched for this AW debut.

12/1

Form: 530763

Last run: 7 days

W: 9st 6lb

3 yo Gelding

OR: 67

Form & Verdict
His best 2yo performance came here last August and he returned to form last Thursday when back at Epsom for the first time, finishing a very close third over this C&D (good); cheekpieces go on; firmly in calculations.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

3

(1)

28th Sep 2025

Good

1m 0f 113y

Class 4

16:40 Epsom

Jiffs Army

9st 0lb

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Stuart Williams

Brings good stats as he's 2-3 since wearing cheekpieces and gained those wins over C&D (good/good to firm) to take his Epsom record to 2311; respected in the retained headgear.

2/1

4

(2)

25th Aug 2025

Good

1m 0f 113y

Class 5

16:28 Epsom

Jiffs Army

9st 7lb

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Stuart Williams

Took advantage of a reduced mark when scoring over C&D (cheekpieces added) last month but he finished ninth of 12 in his follow-up bid at Brighton; now drops back in grade but he's not easy to predict and comes with risks attached.

13/2

9th

11

(7)

6th Aug 2025

Good

0m 7f 216y

Class 4

15:45 Brighton

Jiffs Army

9st 2lb

J: Jack Doughty

T: Stuart Williams

Sole run here wasn't his best at two but that was on soft; resurgent the last twice, a close third (good) followed by a stylish win (also Epsom, 8.5f; good to firm) last month in first-time cheekpieces; seems to love that track which bodes well for Brighton; back up 5lb which looks perfectly fair.

7/1

Form: -47535

Last run: 36 days

W: 8st 11lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 46

Form & Verdict
Has run some good races in defeat over the last 12 months and is not ruled out each-way, but he's won just two of his 53 starts and both victories came back in 2022; others have more pressing claims.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

5

(5)

13th Jul 2026

Standard

1m 0f 1y

Class 6

20:10 Lingfield (AW)

Rainbow Sign

9st 9lb

J: Matthew Lloyd Slater

T: Mark Pattinson

Just three wins from 64 starts but he returned after a short break with a near-miss in a classified at Brighton (7f, good) last month; has possibilities back up in trip and his first two wins came on AW at Lingfield.

7/1

2nd

8

(6)

9th Jun 2026

Good To Soft

0m 6f 210y

Class 6

18:21 Brighton

Rainbow Sign

9st 9lb

J: Matthew Lloyd Slater

T: Mark Pattinson

Strike-rate of 3-63; he won a 0-52 handicap here (1m, good to firm) last September and his latest fourth of 14 in a 0-55 handicap at Bath (1m, good) was commendable; frame possibilities again.

4/1

4th

14

(13)

5th Apr 2026

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 6

17:55 Bath

Rainbow Sign

9st 0lb

J: Kieran O’Neill

T: Mark Pattinson

Running fairly well on the AW when last seen but in only 0-50 company and he is a highly infrequent winner; no more than each-way claims.

20/1

Non-runners

Platinum Prince, Starshiba, Local Bay, Roundabout Silver

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £11.10
Straight Forecast £10.65
Tricast £26.20
Trifecta £36.00

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Jiff's Army

The Times:

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Telegraph:

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The Guardian:

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Daily Mirror:

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The Sun:

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RP RATINGS:

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POSTDATA:

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NEWMARKET:

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Daily Mail:

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D Express:

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The Star:

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Daily Record:

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