Sunday at Donny // 2026-03-29
Really enjoyed the start of the flat season yesterday. I always like this time of year when things get going again on Town Moor. The clocks going forward, the lighter evenings, longer days – it all seems to lift people a touch, whether they notice it or not.
Despite that, I didn’t have a bet.
Partly because nothing really appealed, but also because I’m trying to be a bit more focused this flat season. The plan is to narrow things down a bit and spend more time on a specific type of race.
I’m going to concentrate on 4yo+ handicaps over 5f to 1m in class 4, 5 and 6 company. I’ll still be having bets elsewhere when something stands out, but this is where most of the attention will be. Whether it leads to any kind of miniscule edge remains to be seen, but god loves a trier and all that.
So onto Sunday, where there are four races that fit the bill and are worth getting stuck into …
1.47 Doncaster
The opening race on the card and a competitive affair but with six places on offer at several bookies I’m going to chance the Tony Coyle trained EH UP ITS JAZZ. His run LTO can be ignored, it was on the AW (where he is 0/5) and was hopefully a bit of a pipe opener for this. On a workable mark of 67 (has placed off the same and won off 64) and is 221122 in class 5 company on the turf.
EH UP ITS JAZZ // 0.5pts E/W @ 10/1 (6 places) Paddy Power
3.30 Doncaster
I couldn’t unpick the first division of this race, so have left that alone. The second however looks a bit more of a betting medium and I’m going to chance Jamie Osborne’s EPICTETUS in it. He’s 0/8 on the AW so I’m discounting all his winter runs, and doing that takes us back to his turf from where he was contesting valuable class 2 handicaps. Admitedly – bar one placed effort at Goodwood – he didn’t really ever land a blow but these were much better races. Should strip fitter than many of his rivals here today and the drop back to 7f should pose no problems. Looks to have a very decent chance.
EPICTETUS // 0.5pts E/W @ 7/1 (4 places) Coral
5.50 Doncaster
Charlie Mason looks to have a really good chance but at 4/1 looks really short to me. So a chance is taken on JUAN LE PINS at slightly more generous who came back to form a couple of weeks ago and won LTO at Newcastle. The return to turf shouldn’t inconvience him and is today actually off a mark 5lbs lower than his best runs last summer, in an easier race, so you’d think he’d be competitive. Just hope the ground doens’t get any softer.
JUAN LE PINS // 0.5pts E/W @ 7/1 (4 places) William Hill