Sunday 29th March 2026
NAP (Best Bet)
My best bet of the day on Sunday comes from Doncaster and the 2.20, a Class 4 novice event which is contested over a distance of seven furlongs. I’m strong on the chances of KING OF EARTH here for William Haggas and Cieren Fallon. He posted a very encouraing effort on his racecourse debut at Newbury back in October, finishing two and a quarter of a length behind Gonna Fly, who has Derby entries, and five lengths in front of Bnaider, who was the 9/4 favourite on that occasion. This looks like decent form, and he should naturally take a big step forward on his second start. That run also came on soft ground, so he should handle any cut here, and he looks like a big player for the Haggas team.
2.20 Doncaster – KING OF EARTH – (10/11) (Win) (NAP)
NB (Next Best Bet)
I’ve got one selection from Ascot on Saturday, and this is my next best bet of the day, which runs in the 1.55, a Class 2 maiden hurdle over two miles and three and a half furlongs. I find it difficult to look past the Seamus Mullins-trained WEST HILL VERDE here, who’s the mount of Callum Pritchard. He’s been knocking on the door all season, with a string of places behind several smart sorts such as Captain Hugo, Act Of Innocence, and Crystal Island. He then took his form to the next level last time out at Kelso despite not winning, finishing third of ten in the Grade 2 Premier Novices’ Hurdle. That’s the best form on offer here, and this looks like a perfect opportunity for him to finally open his account.
1.55 Ascot – WEST HILL VERDE – (11/10) (Win) (NB)
3B (Third Best Bet)
It’s back over to Doncaster for what I rank as my third-best bet of the afternoon, and this comes within the 4.40, which is a Class 5 handicap that’s contested over a mile and two furlongs. I think that Dylan Cunha could have the answer to this puzzle with ARC OLE OLE, who’s the mount of Luke Morris. He progressed markedly from his debut run at Newmarket to win comfortably at Bath on soft ground in October, getting up by two lengths on that occasion. He kept on well that day and is by Study Of Man, which suggests that this step up to ten furlongs should be right up his street, and he could well take quite a bit of beating in this particular assignment.
4.40 Doncaster – ARC OLE OLE – (7/4) (Win) (3B)
Each-Way Bet
My each-way bet of the day comes within the 3.30 at Doncaster, and this is a Class 4 handicap over seven furlongs. This is a competitive fifteen-runner affair for the grade; however, I’ve come down on EPICTETUS for the team of Jamie & Saffie Osbourne. Remarkably, he was second behind Auguste Rodin in the Group 1 Futurity Trophy at this track back in 2022. He clearly hasn’t been able to live up to the promise he showed back then; however, he’s now on what looks like a tempting mark for his current yard. He’s yet to get his head in front for Jamie Osbourne, however, he was only beaten by a neck at Chelmsford last time out earlier this month, off just a pound lower. He has form on soft ground, and he should be competitive again here.
3.30 Doncaster – EPICTETUS – (6/1) (Each-Way) (4 places)
Longshot
The longshot on Sunday comes within the 5.15 at Doncaster, and this is a Class 3 handicap that’s ridden over six furlongs. I’m taking a chance on IRISH NECTAR here for Michael Herrington and Edward Greatrex. The Herrington outfit is currently in good form, operating at a 30% strike-rate, and I think that this five-year-old could prove to be overpriced. He was only beaten by a head on his penultimate start at Kempton last month off just a two-pound lower mark, and he’s also a course and distance winner off a two-pound higher mark. He’ll have no issue with any potential cut in the ground, given that his course and distance success came on soft ground, and I believe he’s got every chance of running well at sizeable odds here.
5.15 Doncaster – IRISH NECTAR – (25/1) (Each-Way) (5 places)
