18:30 Epsom Downs

Thursday 17 July 2025

All17:5518:3019:0019:3520:0520:40

Steve Donoghue Handicap

Off time: 18:32 | Winning time: 1m 46.2s

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Selected odds by:

(1)

Royal Pleasure^h,t⁵⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-2| J: R Kingscote| T: K Jewell| OR: 68

6/1

Unreliable individual. Nineteen runs since last win in 2022. 15/2, creditable seventh of 13 in handicap at Kempton (8f) 57 days ago, nearest finish. Comes with risks attached but he's down in class and is undoubtedly well weighted these days.

Form: 667627

(7)

Tex^p,t¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 10-1| J: Jack Callan⁽⁷⁾| T: George Baker| OR: 67

7/2

Cheekpieces on for first time and he shaped well when third of 7 in handicap at this course (10.1f, good to firm, 11/2) 15 days ago. Has to be taken very seriously with this slight drop in trip definitely in his favour.

Form: 642-443

(11)

Classic Speed²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-0| J: K Shoemark| T: Brian Toomey| OR: 66

22/1

Won a brace of Kempton handicaps in 2024. Fifth of 8 in handicap (33/1) at Newmarket (8f, good to firm) 20 days ago, shaping as though in need of the run returning from 5 months off.

Form: 8551-65

(5)

Buy The Dip⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-12| J: P Cosgrave| T: J R Boyle| OR: 64

6/1

Latest win at Lingfield in June. Ninth of 10 in handicap (15/2) at this C&D (good to firm) 7 days ago, left with too much to do. That run can be forgiven and he's likely to run much closer to form this time.

Form: 622129

(4)

Jet Packer³⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Billy Loughnane| T: J R Boyle| OR: 68

13/2

Cheekpieces on for first time, last of 11 in handicap at Sandown (7f, good, 18/1) 34 days ago. Back up in trip with headgear off and he has questions to answer at present.

Form: 9-36370

(2)

Jiff's Army^p1,t⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: Rossa Ryan| T: S C Williams| OR: 67

6/4

Down in the weights and firmly back on track when third of 10 in handicap at this C&D (good to firm) 7 days ago. Cheekpieces on first time and he merits consideration.

Form: 530763

(8)

Rainbow Sign^t³⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 8-11| J: S De Sousa| T: M Pattinson| OR: 46

25/1

Two wins from 53 Flat runs. Thirty three runs since last win in 2022. 9/1, respectable fifth of 10 in minor event at Yarmouth (8f, good) 36 days ago. Not easy to make a case for back in a handicap from out of the weights.

Form: 3-47535

Non-Runners

(10)

Platinum Prince³⁴

Weight: 10-1| Age: 8

T: G & J Moore J: Ashley Lewis

(6)

Starshiba¹⁴

Weight: 9-13| Age: 8

T: Jack Morland J: Non Runner

(9)

Local Bay²³

Weight: 9-13| Age: 7

T: A W Carroll J: Jack Doughty

(3)

Roundabout Silver²⁸

Weight: 8-11| Age: 6

T: S Dow J: Harry Davies

Forecasts

Jiff's Army (6/4), Starshiba (5/2), Tex (7/2), Royal Pleasure (6/1), Buy The Dip (6/1), Jet Packer (13/2), Platinum Prince (10/1), Local Bay (12/1), Roundabout Silver (14/1), Classic Speed (22/1), Rainbow Sign (25/1)

TEX has been shaping up nicely and with this sort of trip probably his optimum, he can confirm his current mark to be a generous one. Buy The Dip had an excuse over C&D last week and he's a threat, along with Jiff's Army.