14:25 Doncaster

Saturday 28 March 2026

All13:2013:5014:2514:5715:3216:0516:4017:15

William Hill Epic Boosts Spring Mile Handicap (Str)

4YO plus | Class 2 | 1m | 22 Runners | Turf

SKY BET PAYING 6 PLACES INSTEAD OF 4Check out the latest prices

(8)

Sterling Knight¹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 9-12| J: Toby Moore⁽⁷⁾| T: E A L Dunlop| OR: 90| C| D

25/1

Gained reward for his consistency in 2025 when landing 7f handicap here in July. Looked rusty after 6 months off at Southwell (7f) 15 days ago but needs to take a big step forward.

Form: 16240-6

(1)

Far From Dandy^p¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: Colin Keane| T: Stephen Thorne| OR: 90| D

8/1

Irish raider signed off for 2025 with a pair of 1m Dundalk victories and has resumed in very good nick, faring best of those held up when fourth of 25 in Irish Lincolnshire at the Curragh 13 days ago. Well in the mix.

Form: 6811-64

(17)

First Ambition²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-11| J: Pierre-Louis Jamin| T: K R Burke| OR: 89| D

16/1

Bagged his first 2 races at Newcastle and Southwell in 2025. Not discredited when seventh in Wolverhampton handicap last time and may still do better with relatively few miles on the clock for good yard.

Form: 1276-67

(12)

Principality¹⁴⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: Kaiya Fraser| T: Harry Eustace| OR: 88| D

8/1

Arrived late to land 1m handicap at Goodwood last summer and ended 2025 with very good efforts in 1m handicaps there and at Newmarket, not ideally drawn on each occasion. This could set up well for him and he's interesting for yard among the winners.

Form: 105345-

(6)

Cadarn²²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-10| J: K Stott| T: K A Ryan| OR: 88| D

33/1

Started 2025 with victory in back-to-back 1m handicaps at Redcar. Only seen twice after for George Boughey and not at his best but can't be discounted for new yard given he goes well fresh and remains quite unexposed.

Form: 24/1104-

(5)

Perfect Part¹⁶⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: Harry Russell| T: B Ellison| OR: 87

40/1

Capable of useful form and twice made the frame at listed level (6f/7f) in the first half of last season. Form tailed off towards the end of the year though and she has her stamina to prove stepping up in trip for return.

Form: 444070-

(10)

Carron^t²²^{(ex 5)}

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: Jack Callan⁽⁵⁾| T: G Boughey| OR: 82| D

9/1

A 3-time winner (including on turf) last year for Charles Hills and got back on the up for his new yard with a gutsy success in 1m Newcastle handicap 22 days ago. This is tougher under a penalty but he can't be ignored.

Form: 017-361

(13)

Desperate Dan¹⁵⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-8| J: N Callan| T: P W Chapple-Hyam| OR: 86| CD

15/2

Ended 2025 on a high with victory in 14-runner handicap over C&D in October. This demands another step forward though off a 4 lb higher mark.

Form: 6/06141-

(21)

Vincent Rocks¹⁹⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: Cieren Fallon| T: H Palmer| OR: 86| BF| D

12/1

Looked a good prospect when bagging 1m novices at Nottingham and Southwell on his first 2 starts in the summer. Proved a big disappointment when only ninth on his handicap debut at Newbury upped in trip but remains with potential.

Form: 119-

(19)

Intrusively¹⁵⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: R Havlin| T: M Appleby| OR: 85

11/1

Only has a maiden win to his name but has been highly tried at times and ended last term with a good fourth to Desperate Dan here in October on his final run for Ed Bethell. Has been gelded and starts out with another good yard here.

Form: 659794-

(14)

Classic Encounter¹⁸³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: H Crouch| T: G Boughey| OR: 85| D

11/2

Proved a largely reliable sort in 2025, scoring at Redcar (1m) and York (9f). Goes well fresh too so needs considering for his in-form handler.

Form: 314603-

(3)

Mezcala¹⁸³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: George Bass| T: J Channon| OR: 85| BF| D

13/2

Landed the odds in 1m all-weather maiden at Lingfield and improved again when runner-up on his handicap debut at Haydock. Failed to get home upped to 9f when seventh at Newmarket final run and could have more to offer in 2026.

Form: 52127-

(16)

Empirestateofmind^b¹²³

Age: 8| Weight: 9-6| J: Jason Hart| T: J & S Quinn| OR: 84| D

66/1

A dual winner last season at Ayr and Musselburgh. Shaped quite a bit better than the distance beaten suggests in this 12 months ago but did have race fitness on his side.

Form: 521295-

(2)

Naples¹⁸⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: D C Costello| T: Steph Hollinshead| OR: 84| D

40/1

Lightly-raced son of Mehmas who ended his time for Paddy Twomey with victory in 1m Listowel maiden in September. Changed hands for 20,000 gns and goes handicapping for his new yard with more required.

Form: 4021-

(20)

Rainbow Nebula^v¹²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: Billy Garritty| T: R A Fahey| OR: 83| D

9/1

Off the mark in big-field Ascot handicap last autumn and got back on the up (in a first-time visor) with a gritty success at Newcastle (1m) in November. Still lightly raced as he begins his 4-y-o campaign.

Form: 251531-

(9)

Lir Speciale¹⁴⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 9-4| J: C J Whiteley⁽⁷⁾| T: B Ellison| OR: 82| C

11/1

Made it 3-3 here in a 7f heavy-ground handicap in November. A 5 lb rise tolerable and just as effective over 1m, so could be on the premises once more having won first time up in the past.

Form: 203511-

(22)

Milteye¹⁵¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-4| J: S D Bowen| T: H Bethell| OR: 82| D

18/1

Proved more settled when getting back on the up with success in 1m Leicester handicap in October. Career-high mark to overcome in tougher race on return.

Form: 131261-

(18)

Prosperitas^p¹⁵⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: Marco Ghiani| T: T Kent| OR: 82| C

14/1

Low-mileage 4-y-o who proved much improved in first-time cheekpieces when bagging 15-runner 7f handicap here in October from On The River. Needs another step forward to get involved on first crack at 1m on reappearance.

Form: 51/5001-

(15)

High On Hope⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: Harry Davies| T: M Appleby| OR: 82| D

12/1

Successful twice over 1m in January and in better heart than his recent form figures suggest, fourth of 12 in 9.5f Wolverhampton handicap 8 days ago when not enjoying a clear run. This is tougher back on turf but wouldn't rule out.

Form: 116554

(7)

Pressure's On⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: O J Orr| T: E A L Dunlop| OR: 79

16/1

Right back to his best in 2026, runner-up in a pair of 7f handicaps at Wolverhampton. Can race off the same mark here so possibilities.

Form: 1300-22

(11)

On The River¹⁵⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 9-0| J: P J McDonald| T: H Bethell| OR: 78| D

16/1

Consistent sort who signed off last term with a very good second of 15 to Prosperitas in 7f handicap here. Majority of his wins have come on soft/heavy going though.

Form: 485642-

(4)

Zowal¹⁴⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: Warren Fentiman⁽³⁾| T: J & S Quinn| OR: 77| D

80/1

Winner of 1m maiden at Musselburgh on his reappearance last April but this French import failed to build on it in handicaps (reported to have suffered breathing problem on last 2 outings). Needs to bounce back on return.

Form: 2/177P0-

Forecasts

Mezcala (5/1), Carron (13/2), Desperate Dan (7/1), Lir Speciale (8/1), Classic Encounter (12/1), Pressure's On (12/1), Sterling Knight (14/1), On The River (14/1), Rainbow Nebula (14/1), Far From Dandy (14/1), Principality (14/1), Prosperitas (16/1), Intrusively (16/1), High On Hope (20/1), Milteye (20/1), Vincent Rocks (25/1), Empirestateofmind (25/1), Perfect Part (33/1), Naples (33/1), Cadarn (33/1), First Ambition (33/1), Zowal (66/1)

Harry Eustace has his string in excellent nick so it could be worth siding with his PRINCIPALITY given the race should set up well for him and he starts 2026 on a fair mark. Irish challenger Far From Dandy wasn't seen to ideal effect when fourth in the Irish Lincolnshire at the Curragh and can also have a say, while Rainbow Nebula, Classic Encounter and Carron all have something to recommend them in this wide-open handicap.