Thursday promises a packed schedule of flat racing on Sky Sports Racing, featuring action from Lingfield, Southwell and Yarmouth. The centerpiece at Yarmouth will be the Sky Sports Virgin 519 Fillies' Handicap, a seven‑furlong contest that will see eight fillies line up for the penultimate race of the day. Among the runners, George Boughey will be aboard Zighy, a three‑year‑old mare who broke her maiden on her fifth start and then added a second all‑weather win just fifteen days later at Southwell. Purchased for 400,000 guineas (approximately £42,000) as a yearling, Zighy returns to turf under the guidance of Billy Loughnane, who will be looking to guide the filly to a coveted hat‑trick.
Also in the field is You’ll Think Of Me, ridden by David Egan. The filly, bought for 500,000 guineas (£52,000), made a striking debut in December, winning at very long odds.
Initially trained by Donnacha O’Brien, she managed only a second place in four outings before moving to the stable of Kevin Philippart De Foy. After a 150‑day spell, she returns to the turf eager to extend her unbeaten record for her new trainer.
Ed Walker and James Doyle will join forces on Moonshine, a daughter of Starman who has never finished outside the first three in her four career starts. Moonshine recorded a career‑best performance last month when she broke her maiden, and she will now be tested again over the seven‑furlong distance at Yarmouth. Other notable entries include Brisky Symphony for Jonathan Portman and Here I Bow for Oli Rix, each looking to make an impact in a competitive field. Moving over to Lingfield, the penultimate race of the day is the Sky Sports Racing Virgin 512 Handicap, also run over seven furlongs and contested by a ten‑horse field.
John Butler will partner Luke Morris on Havana Touch, a horse that enjoyed a strong performance earlier this year with a third win at Kempton in early May and will now drop back to seven furlongs for the first time since that victory. Bella Bisbee, trained by Scott Dixon and ridden by Kieran O’Neill, is another recent winner who captured a race over the same distance just sixteen days ago. She will be aiming for a fourth career win, while Craig Benton’s Bold Suitor, who was a length behind Bella Bisbee in their last meeting, carries three pounds less today, giving him a weight advantage on his return to Lingfield.
The Lingfield lineup also features Jim Boyle’s Daisy Roots, Richard Hughes aboard Spirit Lead Me, and Virtue Patience, who will be racing in cheekpieces for the first time. At Southwell, eight runners will contest the Free Race Replays On attheraces.com Handicap over six furlongs. Roberto Caro, under the tack of Adrian Keatley, is hunting for his first victory since a narrow neck‑win in the Racing League at Chepstow in August.
The five‑year‑old showed determination then but has not yet replicated that form. Station X, a consistent performer with four successive placed finishes—including a near two‑length win over Roberto Caro at Southwell—will be carrying two pounds less in today’s race, potentially giving him the edge. Stanley Spencer, piloted by James Tate, has produced encouraging runs since his last win in September and will be looking to add a fifth career win, with Clifford Lee slated as his jockey. Additional entries include Alondra for Scott Dixon and Tough Enough for Antony Brittain, rounding out the eight‑horse field.
Beyond the featured contests, the day will also showcase a series of international and domestic events. At 2:20, Lingfield will host the Brocklesby and Seathegulls races, where Gary and Josh Moore are well‑backed.
At 2:40, Yarmouth will present the Novice Stakes, highlighted by the expensive purchases Night Shining and Venetian Sky. The program continues with a ParisLongchamp meeting at 3:03, featuring several horses entered in the prestigious Prix du Jockey Club, including Shalazi for the Aga Khan. Later at 3:15, Yarmouth offers a Maiden race featuring Adamlyi, Alpine Culture and Fahidi, while a further ParisLongchamp Maiden at 3:38 includes Regal Chime, Place de l’Opera (a contender for the French 1,000 Guineas) and Soda Zabeel, who is aimed at the Prix de Diane. The day rounds off with Yarmouth’s 5:30 race where Armstrong, a half‑brother to the U.S.
performer Excellent Truth, seeks his maiden win, and at 5:52 Southwell, Arranmore and Roman Secret will each be looking to secure successive victories. Fans can stay up to date with the latest racing news, interviews and feature stories from Sky Sports Racing on their mobile devices, ensuring they never miss a beat of the action throughout this bustling Thursday card.