The three‑day Yarmouth Festival draws to a close on Thursday, capping the meeting with a seven‑race card that will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Racing. Among the highlights, two recent winners – Deep Havana and Pilu – are expected to be among the best of a twelve‑horse field in the Boodles Handicap.
Deep Havana, ridden by Hamad Al Jehani, will be looking to add another victory for trainer Wathnan. The bay colt secured his first win for the stable at Thirsk, edging out Yes I’m Mali by a head, and will now carry a five‑pound penalty. Despite the added weight, the Wathnan‑owned horse remains a strong contender, especially given his proven ability to finish strongly under pressure.
Pilu, trained by Roger Teal, is another horse to watch. After dropping down in class, Pilu captured a Newmarket handicap in impressive fashion and will be partnered with jockey Joe Leavy for the Yarmouth contest.
The horse’s recent form suggests he could be a serious threat, especially if he can replicate the front‑running style that served him so well at Newmarket. Also in the mix is Westport, who will be wearing cheekpieces for the first time this season as the connections hope to restore the horse to winning form. Kempton runner‑up Art Lover, now under the guidance of William Haggas and ridden by Tom Marquand, is another intriguing prospect, while Darn Hot – now carrying three pounds less than his last winning effort for trainer Ed Walker – could also feature prominently. Beyond the Boodles Handicap, the meeting offers several other compelling stories.
At Southwell, former winners Dojin and Level Look are entered in a trappy handicap, a race that promises to test the depth of the field. Dojin, who recently claimed a tight victory at Newmarket while sporting a brand‑new hood, looks well‑suited to the conditions and could be a leading candidate.
The Sky Sports Racing schedule continues throughout the day, featuring a clash between Spy Chief and Catullus at Newbury, as well as live coverage from Newton Abbot and Wolverhampton on Friday. In other news, Almeraq is set for an Ascot return on Champions Day, while Fairy Glen is among the favourites in the John Musker Fillies' Stakes at Yarmouth. The Eastern Festival at Yarmouth also kicks off with promising novice action, and jockey Saffie Osborne comments that there are many talented riders – like Leger winner – who simply need the right opportunity, according to trainer Kevin Blake. Meanwhile, Windsor’s flat season finale will headline Monday’s action, and Sky Sports Racing continues to provide the latest racing news, interviews, and features.
Andrew Balding’s Level Look, the only three‑year‑old in the field, doubled his career tally with an easy win at Wolverhampton last week and appears capable of stepping up to a two‑mile distance under Callum Hutchinson. Charging Thunder and New York Minute round out the quartet of contenders, with New York Minute boasting a strong course and distance record – a 14‑length victory back in 2025 – for trainer Joey Ramsden.
In a separate Dan Hague‑sponsored Rails Bookmaker Nursery Handicap, Soldier Of The Sea leads an eleven‑horse field. William Knight’s charge, who broke his maiden at Ffos Las in June and has shown consistent ability since, finished fourth in a novice at Ascot and now makes his handicap debut.
Sydney Grace, who claimed a novice win at Carlisle, is now carrying two pounds more after a narrow defeat in her nursery debut at Wolverhampton. Mirzimaan, a Newbury novice winner earlier in the campaign, disappointed in a York nursery last month, leaving the market to decide his chances. Internationally, the G3 Prix Robert Lejeune at Auteuil will see Huron Bleu and Navy Du Seuil lock horns, while French hurdling star Losange Bleu headlines the Prix de Compiegne later in the day.
Back in the UK, Wopbopaloomop tops a thirteen‑horse field in Southwell’s opening Virgin 512 Nursery Handicap at 4:20 pm. Trainer Richard Spencer, who has enjoyed a string of recent successes, will be looking for another win despite a six‑pound penalty. Later, the Sky Sports Racing Sky 415 EBF Restricted Novice Stakes at 6:30 pm features Peaberry for Tom Ward, following a showdown between Zachary Hickes and Heroics in a Goffs Two Million Series Handicap.
All of these races, storylines, and personalities combine to make Yarmouth’s final day a compelling showcase of British flat racing, offering both seasoned campaigners and up‑and‑coming novices the chance to make their mark before the festival concludes.