Thursday promises a packed programme of flat racing on Sky Sports Racing, with action coming from Lingfield, Southwell and Yarmouth. The centerpiece at Yarmouth is the Sky Sports Virgin 519 Fillies' Handicap over seven furlongs, featuring a modest field of eight promising youngsters. Among the runners, George Boughey will be aboard Zighy, a three‑year‑old filly who finally broke her maiden on her fifth start. Just fifteen days earlier she proved her mettle on the all‑weather surface at Southwell, securing a convincing win that marked her as a genuine contender.
Purchased as a yearling for 400,000 gns (approximately £42,000), Zighy now returns to turf under the guidance of rising trainer Billy Loughnane. The connections are targeting a hat‑trick, hoping the filly can replicate her recent form and add a third straight victory to her record. Also in the lineup is You’ll Think Of Me, ridden by David Egan. The filly, a 500,000 gns (£52,000) yearling, made a striking debut in December, winning at long odds.
Originally trained by Donnacha O’Brien, she never managed better than a runner‑up in four starts for that yard. After a 150‑day spell away from the track, she returns to turf for her first run in five months, keen to continue her unbeaten streak for trainer Kevin Philippart De Foy. Her experience and recent fitness make her a serious threat in the handicap.
Ed Walker and James Doyle join forces on Moonshine, a daughter of Starman who has never finished outside the top three in her four career starts. She recorded a career‑best performance last month when she finally broke her duck, and today she steps up again over the seven‑furlong distance, hoping to convert that promise into a win.
Other notable entries include Brisky Symphony for Jonathan Portman and Here I Bow for Oli Rix, both of whom have shown enough ability to merit a look from punters. Moving over to Lingfield, the penultimate race of the day is the Sky Sports Racing Virgin 512 Handicap, also over seven furlongs, and it will see a field of ten. John Butler and Luke Morris team up on Havana Touch, a horse that enjoyed a strong performance at Kempton earlier this month, securing his third win of the season. This will be his first return to the seven‑furlong trip since a victory at Kempton in May of the previous year, and connections are confident the distance suits him well.
Bella Bisbee, trained by Scott Dixon and ridden by Kieran O’Neill, is another recent winner. She claimed a victory over the same course and distance just sixteen days ago and will be looking to notch a fourth career win, again over seven furlongs. Craig Benton’s Bold Suitor, who was a length second to Bella Bisbee in their last meeting, carries three pounds less today, giving him a weight advantage that could prove decisive.
The Lingfield field also includes Jim Boyle’s Daisy Roots, Richard Hughes’s Spirit Lead Me, and Virtue Patience, who will be trying cheekpieces for the first time. These horses round out a competitive lineup that should provide plenty of excitement for viewers. Over at Southwell, the Free Race Replays On attheraces.com Handicap over six furlongs will see eight runners line up. Roberto Caro, under the tack of Adrian Keatley, is chasing his first win since a narrow neck victory in the Racing League at Chepstow in August.
The five‑year‑old showed tenacity then, but has not tasted success since, making this a crucial opportunity to get back to winning ways. Station X, another consistent performer, arrives with four consecutive placed finishes, including a recent win over Roberto Caro by almost two lengths at Southwell.
This time Roberto Caro carries two pounds less, which could narrow the gap between the two rivals. Stanely Spencer, partnered by James Tate, is also worth watching. Spencer has produced a series of encouraging runs since his last win in September and will be aiming for a fifth career victory, with Clifford Lee booked as a notable jockey for the occasion.
Additional entries in the Southwell handicap include Alondra for Scott Dixon and Tough Enough for Antony Brittain, both of whom have shown form that could see them challenge for the prize. For fans who want to stay up‑to‑date, Sky Sports Racing provides the latest horse racing news, interviews and feature stories across all platforms, ensuring you never miss a beat. The day's schedule continues with a series of supporting races: at 2.20 pm Lingfield, the Brocklesby‑style event will see well‑backed horses featuring for Gary and Josh Moore.
At 2.40 pm Yarmouth, the Novice Stakes will showcase high‑priced purchases Night Shining and Venetian Sky. The international flavour arrives at 3.03 pm with ParisLongchamp entries, including several contenders for the Prix du Jockey Club such as Shalazi for the Aga Khan. Later, at 3.15 pm Yarmouth, the Maiden will feature Adamlyi, Alpine Culture and Fahidi, while at 3.38 pm ParisLongchamp another Maiden will see Regal Chime, Place de l’Opera (targeting the French 1,000 Guineas) and Soda Zabeel (aimed at the Prix de Diane) take to the track. The evening wraps up with a 5.30 pm Yarmouth race where Armstrong, a half‑brother to the US performer Excellent Truth, seeks his maiden victory.
Finally, at 5.52 pm Southwell, Arranmore and Roman Secret will each be looking to secure successive wins, adding a final burst of excitement to an already action‑packed day of racing.