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 Saeed bin Suroor, secured his first career win in a modest novice race at Lingfield, beating Romanza. That early success has earned him a respectable live rating of 87, making him a genuine contender in today’s handicap. His pedigree and the skill of his trainer suggest he could improve further when given a bit more distance and a stronger pace. Karl Burke’s Waasil is another strong prospect.
After a delayed debut, the horse finally broke his maiden at Beverley last month, thriving over a slightly longer trip. Waasil has shown a willingness to quicken in the stretch and will be a key player under the guidance of jockey Sam James, who knows how to extract the best from horses with a turn of foot. Also featuring in the Newbury race is Duke of Burgundy, a Kempton winner saddled by Richard Hannon.
The colt brings proven form over similar distances and will add depth to the field. Flying Pirate, another Hannon trainee, was gelded after finishing third at Salisbury in his most recent start; the change may help him focus more on racing and could see him improve his performance. Moving to Doncaster, the opening British Stallion Studs EBF Novice Stakes will see Night Star and Jassas contest a valuable early‑season test.
Jassas, a Dubawi colt, makes his debut for a powerful ownership group that has already produced several high‑class performers this year. Veteran rider William Buick will take the mount, and his experience suggests Jassas will be placed well, if not win outright. Night Star, trained by Richard Hannon, builds on a promising first start where he finished third over a longer trip against established rivals such as Superlative and Silver Dominion.
The form line indicates he should be competitive under jockey Sean Levey, especially if the race unfolds at a steady pace that suits his stamina. Among the younger prospects, 550,000‑euro yearling Lead The Squad will debut for trainer George Scott with Darragh Keenan in the saddle.
The colt, by Sea The Stars, is closely related to St Leger runner‑up Crystal Ocean, giving him a strong genetic foundation. Bettors will be watching his first run closely, as his pedigree suggests he could develop into a middle‑distance specialist. The Crisfords stable introduces Narrjoo, a half‑brother to the UAE Prince and purchased for 200,000 guineas.
While still untested at this level, his breeding and price tag imply a high level of expectation, and he could be a dark horse in today’s races. In the Yarmouth handicap, Starfinch makes her debut in the Download The Raceday Ready App Handicap.
The filly has been dropped in class after a modest showing at Goodwood, where she finished ninth in a Listed event. The step down should allow her to regain confidence and potentially pick up a win.
Harry Eustace’s filly, who claimed a novice win at Southwell in January, stepped up to Listed company in the Spring Cup Stakes at Lingfield and later finished last of nine at Goodwood. The reduced class at Yarmouth could provide her with a chance to bounce back and add another victory to her record.
Hardy’s Hero, a consistent performer who has been the favourite in his last two outings but fell short each time, will line up again today. After a close head defeat at Newmarket, he will start from the same mark, and his connections believe he is due for a win.
Rounding out the Newbury field are Caviar Cowboy and Three Non Blondes, both of which have shown promise in recent outings and will add further intrigue to what is shaping up to be an exciting contest. The day’s schedule also includes several notable races beyond the Newbury feature. At Doncaster, Round the Table, who impressed at Ffos Las, will start at 2.40 with odds suggesting he is above average. Jumeirah Storm, a nursery debutante, will be fancied at 3.10.
At Newbury, a Frankel filly named Lorraine will make her first start. She is related to the successful sprinters Publish and Arizona, indicating she may possess speed and versatility. Yarmouth will see Anchiano attempt to replicate his previous course‑and‑distance success at 5.04, while at 8.34 a solid Class Five featuring Roi De Coeur and Celtic Chariot will vie for another win.
Southwell’s 4.53 race will pit recent winners Dannick and Gunfighter against each other, promising a tight finish. In Vichy, the listed race at 4.13 will see Grand Baigneuse, popular with the Graffard team, take the lead. Finally, at Mont De Marsan, Amy Murphy will ride Noble Approach at 11.06, adding another layer of excitement to the day’s programme. Racing enthusiasts 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.