Thursday promises a packed programme of flat racing across several venues, with live coverage on Sky Sports Racing from Doncaster, Newbury, Southwell and Yarmouth. The highlight of the day will be the BetVictor Nursery Handicap at Newbury, where recent winners Victory Gold and Waasil will lead a small but competitive field of five runners. Victory Gold, trained by the veteran Saeed bin Suroor, has already tasted success in his short career.
The colt earned his first win in a novice race at Lingfield, beating Romanza in a respectable fashion. Because of that early triumph, he starts at a live betting price of 87, reflecting the confidence punters have in his ability to repeat the feat. Victory Gold’s pedigree and training regime suggest he will handle the Newbury track well, especially given the relatively soft going expected later in the afternoon.
The second headline contender is Waasil, a horse owned by Karl Burke. Waasil broke his maiden at Beverley on his second start last month, showing a clear preference for a little extra distance.
The colt has been placed under the guidance of jockey Sam James, who is known for timing his runs perfectly in nursery races. Waasil’s recent form and his ability to settle comfortably in the early stages make him a genuine threat to the favourite. Also featuring in the Newbury contest is Duke of Burgundy, a Kempton winner trained by Richard Hannon.
The experienced trainer has placed the colt in the race to add depth to the field and to give the horse a chance to pick up a valuable handicap win. Flying Pirate, another Hannon runner, was gelded after finishing third at Salisbury in his most recent outing.
The gelding is expected to benefit from the added focus that comes with the procedure, and his connections are hopeful that he will improve his performance under the new circumstances. Further down the programme, Doncaster will host the British Stallion Studs EBF Novice Stakes, an informative race that often reveals future stars. Two notable entries are Night Star and Jassas.
Jassas, a Dubawi colt, makes his debut for a powerful ownership group that has already placed several high‑profile horses at the track this year. Veteran jockey William Buick will ride the colt, and his experience suggests Jassas will be kept close to the pace and could finish strongly. Night Star, trained by Richard Hannon, built on his maiden start by finishing third over the same course and distance just two weeks ago, a performance that should see him placed well under Sean Levey’s guidance.
In another intriguing story, a 550,000‑euro yearling named Lead The Squad will debut for trainer George Scott and jockey Darragh Keenan. The Sea The Stars‑sired colt is closely related to St Leger runner‑up Crystal Ocean, and his pedigree has generated considerable interest among bettors.
Lead The Squad is expected to be a useful addition to the field, offering a blend of stamina and speed. The Crisfords’ stable will also introduce a new face: Narrjoo. Purchased for 200,000 gns, Narrjoo is a half‑brother to UAE Prince and carries a promising bloodline.
The connections hope the investment will pay off quickly, especially given the colt’s promising early workouts. Yarmouth will see the debut of Starfinch in a handicap race. The filly has been lowered in class for the Download The Raceday Ready App Handicap, a move that should give her a better chance of success. Meanwhile, Harry Eustace’s filly, who won a novice at Southwell in January and subsequently ran creditably in the Listed Spring Cup Stakes at Lingfield, will contest a lower‑grade race after finishing ninth in Listed company at Goodwood.
The drop in class is expected to suit her and could see her return to winning ways. Hardy’s Hero, a consistent performer, has been a beaten favourite in his last two outings. He will run off the same mark as his previous race, having narrowly lost by a head at Newmarket.
The horse’s form suggests he could turn the tables and claim victory this time around. Rounding out the Newbury field are Caviar Cowboy and Three Non Blondes, two horses that add depth and intrigue to what is already an exciting contest. In addition to the main events, the schedule includes several notable races across the country. At Doncaster, Round the Table impressed at Ffos Las and is considered above average for a nursery start at 2:40.
Jumeirah Storm, also at Doncaster, will be fancied on his debut over the nursery distance at 3:10. Newbury will feature a Frankel‑filly named Lorraine, making her first start at 6:30; she is related to the successful horses Publish and Arizona, adding a layer of pedigree interest. Yarmouth’s programme includes Anchiano, who will attempt to repeat his earlier course and distance success at 5:04, and a solid Class Five race at 8:34 where Roi De Coeur and Celtic Chariot will vie for another win. Southwell’s 4:53 race will see last‑time scorers Dannick and Gunfighter clash, while Vichy’s listed race at 4:13 will see Grand Baigneuse, a popular choice for the Graffard team, take the lead.
Finally, at Mont De Marsan, Amy Murphy will saddle Noble Approach in the 11:06 contest. Racing fans can stay up‑to‑date with the latest news, interviews and feature stories by downloading the Sky Sports Racing app, ensuring they never miss a beat of the action on their mobile devices.
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