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 is the BetVictor Nursery Handicap at Newbury, where recent winners Victory Gold and Waasil will lead a modest field of five runners. Victory Gold, trained by the veteran Saeed bin Suroor, secured his maiden victory in a respectable novice race at Lingfield, edging out Romanza. The colt now starts as a live player with an opening rating of 87, suggesting the handicapper sees him as a genuine contender.
His win at Lingfield demonstrated a blend of early speed and the ability to sustain a strong finish, qualities that should serve him well in the Newbury contest. Karl Burke’s Waasil, who broke his maiden on his second start at Beverley last month, is another strong prospect. The horse thrives over an extended distance and is expected to be a serious threat under the guidance of jockey Sam James.
Waasil’s recent form shows a horse that is still improving, and the extra yardage at Newbury could play to his strengths. Other notable entries include Richard Hannon’s Duke Of Burgundy, a Kempton winner who will be looking to add another victory to his résumé, and Flying Pirate, a gelding who finished third at Salisbury in his most recent outing and has now been gelded, a change that often helps focus a horse’s temperament. At Doncaster, the British Stallion Studs EBF Novice Stakes will feature Night Star and Jassas, two promising juveniles. Jassas, a Dubawi‑colt, makes his debut for a powerful ownership group that has already produced several high‑profile performers this season.
Veteran jockey William Buick will be aboard, and his experience should help the colt settle into the race and stay in contention throughout. Night Star, also trained by Hannon, built on his first start by finishing third over the same course and distance just a fortnight ago, after a respectable run behind Superlative and Silver Dominion. That recent form suggests he will be well‑placed under jockey Sean Levey, who knows how to extract a finishing burst from young horses. Among the newcomers, 550,000‑euro yearling Lead The Squad will debut for trainer George Scott with Darragh Keenan in the saddle.
The Sea The Stars colt is closely related to St Leger runner‑up Crystal Ocean, giving him a pedigree that hints at stamina and class. Bettors will be watching his debut closely, as his bloodlines suggest he could develop into a middle‑distance specialist.
The Crisfords’ stable will also introduce Narrjoo, a half‑brother to UAE Prince, purchased for 200,000 gns. The price tag reflects the market’s confidence in his potential, and his first run will be a key indicator of whether he can live up to expectations. In addition to the headline races, Sky Sports Racing encourages viewers to stay connected via their mobile app for the latest news, interviews and feature stories. The platform’s "Raceday Ready" app offers real‑time updates, odds and racecards, ensuring fans never miss a beat.
Yarmouth will see Starfinch make her handicap debut in the Download The Raceday Ready App Handicap. The filly has been dropped in class after a modest showing in a Listed Spring Cup Stakes at Lingfield and a ninth‑place finish in a Listed race at Goodwood. The step down in class should give her a better chance to showcase her ability.
Harry Eustace’s filly, who claimed a novice win at Southwell in January, will contest a race at Yarmouth after a respectable run in the Spring Cup Stakes. Her previous experience at higher level races should provide a solid foundation as she seeks to regain confidence.
Hardy’s Hero, a consistent performer who has been the beaten favourite in his last two outings, will line up again after a narrow head defeat at Newmarket. Running off the same mark, he is expected to be a strong contender and could well turn the tables this time. Rounding out the Newbury field are Caviar Cowboy and Three Non Blondes, two horses that add depth and intrigue to an already exciting race card. The day’s schedule also includes several other notable fixtures: at 2.40 pm Doncaster, Round The Table, who impressed at Ffos Las, appears above average and could be a dark horse.
At 3.10 pm Doncaster, Jumeirah Storm makes his nursery debut and will be closely watched by punters. At 6.30 pm Newbury, Frankel‑filly Lorraine will start her first race, carrying the legacy of her sire’s line and sharing bloodlines with Publish and Arizona.
Further down the program, at 5.04 pm Yarmouth, Anchiano aims to repeat his previous success over the same course and distance. At 8.34 pm Yarmouth, a solid Class Five field featuring Roi De Coeur and Celtic Chariot will vie for another win. Southwell’s 4.53 pm race will see last‑time winners Dannick and Gunfighter clash, while the 4.13 pm Listed race at Vichy will see Grand Baigneuse, popular with the Graffard team, take the lead.
Finally, at 11.06 pm Mont De Marsan, jockey Amy Murphy will ride Noble Approach in what promises to be a competitive finish. Overall, Thursday’s racing offers a blend of seasoned campaigners, promising juveniles and intriguing newcomers, making it a must‑watch day for any racing enthusiast.
Whether you are tracking the progress of rising stars like Victory Gold and Waasil or enjoying the seasoned tactics of seasoned trainers, Sky Sports Racing provides comprehensive coverage to keep you engaged from start to finish.