Thursday promises a packed programme of flat racing across several venues, all streamed live on Sky Sports Racing. The day’s headline feature comes from Newbury, where the BetVictor Nursery Handicap will see recent winners Victory Gold and Waasil head a modest field of five runners. Both horses have shown promise in their brief careers, and the contest should provide an early glimpse of the talent emerging from the British juvenile ranks.
Victory Gold, trained by the veteran Saeed bin Suroor, secured his first victory in a novice race at Lingfield, edging out Romanza in a respectable performance. The colt entered the Newbury race with an opening rating of 87, reflecting his modest but improving ability.
His win at Lingfield demonstrated a blend of speed and stamina that should serve him well over the nursery distance, and connections will be keen to see if he can build on that form against a competitive, albeit small, field. The other headline runner, Waasil, is a product of Karl Burke’s yard.
After a delayed debut, the horse broke his maiden at Beverley last month, showing a clear affinity for a slightly longer trip. Waasil’s trainer believes the extra yardage at Newbury will play to his strengths, and the horse will be paired with jockey Sam James, who is expected to keep him well‑placed throughout the race.
Both Victory Gold and Waasil are therefore positioned as the main contenders, and the betting market will likely reflect their recent successes. Also featuring in the Newbury field is Duke of Burgundy, a Kempton winner saddled by Richard Hannon. The horse has already proved his ability to handle the track’s undulating surface, and his inclusion adds depth to the contest. Flying Pirate, another Hannon‑trained runner, has been gelded since finishing third at Salisbury, and his connections hope the change will sharpen his focus for the upcoming run.
Further afield, Doncaster will host the British Stallion Studs EBF Novice Stakes, a race that will showcase two promising juveniles: 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 venue this season. With William Buick aboard, Jassas is expected to be a serious threat and could finish close if not win outright. Night Star, trained by Richard Hannon, builds on a solid first start where he finished fourth behind Superlative and Silver Dominion.
The colt’s recent form suggests he could be competitive under the guidance of Sean Levey. Among the newcomers, a 550,000‑euro yearling named Lead The Squad will make his debut for trainer George Scott with Darragh Keenan in the saddle. The Sea The Stars offspring is related to St Leger runner‑up Crystal Ocean, and his pedigree hints at both speed and staying power, making him a horse to watch in the betting markets.
Another intriguing addition is Narrjoo, a Crisfords‑owned runner purchased for 200,000 gns and a half‑sibling to the UAE Prince. Narrjoo’s pedigree and price tag suggest a high level of expectation from his connections. At Yarmouth, the Download The Raceday Ready App Handicap will see Starfinch make her handicap debut. The filly, after a modest novice win at Southwell in January, stepped up to Listed company in the Spring Cup Stakes at Lingfield and later finished ninth in a Listed race at Goodwood.
The drop back to a handicap should suit her, and she will be looking to regain confidence against a more appropriate field. Hardy’s Hero, a consistent performer who has been the beaten favourite in his last two outings, will also contest the Yarmouth card.
After a narrow defeat at Newmarket, the horse is expected to repeat his strong showing, especially since he will be running from the same starting mark as before. The field will be rounded out by Caviar Cowboy and Three Non Blondes, both of which add depth and variety to the race. Other notable fixtures include a 2.40 pm race at Doncaster featuring Round the Table, who impressed at Ffos Las and is considered above average by many analysts. At 3.10 pm, Jumeirah Storm will make her nursery debut, while a Frankel‑filly named Lorraine will have her first start at Newbury at 6.30 pm, bringing a distinguished bloodline that includes Publish and Arizona.
In the Yarmouth program, Anchiano will attempt to replicate his earlier success over the same course and distance at 5.04 pm, and a Class Five race at 8.34 pm will see Roi de Coeur and Celtic Chariot vie for another victory. Southwell’s 4.53 pm race will pit recent winners Dannick and Gunfighter against each other, and Vichy’s 4.13 pm Listed contest will feature Grand Baigneuse, a popular choice among the Graffard team.
Finally, at 11.06 pm, Amy Murphy will ride Noble Approach in a race at Mont De Marsan. Overall, Thursday’s schedule offers a diverse mix of novice and seasoned talent across the UK’s flat racing circuit. Whether you are tracking the progress of promising juveniles like Victory Gold and Waasil, or following the development of well‑bred yearlings such as Lead The Squad, there is plenty of action to keep racing enthusiasts engaged.
For the latest updates, interviews, and in‑depth features, stay tuned to Sky Sports Racing and make sure to download the official app for real‑time race‑day information.