The three‑day Yarmouth Festival draws to a close on Thursday, featuring a seven‑race card that will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Racing. Among the headline contests is the Boodles Handicap, where recent victors Deep Havana and Pilu are expected to be among the favourites in a field of twelve runners.
Deep Havana, ridden by Hamad Al Jehani, secured his first win for trainer Wathnan when he edged out Yes I’m Mali by a head at Thirsk. Despite carrying a five‑pound penalty, the horse remains a strong contender in this race. The colt, owned by Wathnan, will be looking to build on that breakthrough performance and add another win to his record.
Pilu, trained by Roger Teal, capitalised on a drop in class to capture a Newmarket handicap in impressive fashion at his last start. Backed heavily by jockey Joe Leavy, Pilu is another serious threat in the Boodles Handicap, and his recent form suggests he could be the one to upset the odds.
Other notable entries include Westport, who will be wearing cheekpieces in an attempt to return to winning ways, and Art Lover, the Kempton runner‑up who has attracted the attention of trainer William Haggas and rider Tom Marquand. So Darn Hot also merits a look, now carrying three pounds less than his previous winning mark under the guidance of Ed Walker. The programme also features a trappy handicap at Southwell, where previous winners Dojin and Level Look will contest the market‑movers race. Dojin, who claimed a tight victory at Newmarket last month while sporting a brand‑new hood, appears well‑placed for another success in a similar contest.
Weekend highlights include Almekarem, who is backed for a handicap win at Newbury on Saturday, and Stem, another horse with strong backing. In the Mill Reef Stakes at Newbury, Arapaho Gold, piloted by Hollie Doyle, looks set to extend an unbeaten run for trainer Michael Dods. Sky Sports Racing will also showcase a series of other races today, such as the clash between Spy Chief and Catullus at Newbury, and live coverage from Newton Abbot and Wolverhampton on Friday.
The racing round‑up notes that Almeraq is poised for an Ascot return on Champions Day, while Fairy Glen is well‑fancied in the John Musker Fillies' Stakes at Yarmouth. Andrew Balding’s Level Look, the sole three‑year‑old in the Southwell field, doubled his career tally with an easy win at Wolverhampton last week and appears capable of stepping up to the two‑mile distance under Callum Hutchinson.
Charging Thunder and New York Minute round out the quartet, with New York Minute boasting a 14‑length victory over the same course and distance back in 2025, now under the tutelage of Joey Ramsden. The Dan Hague Rails Bookmaker Nursery Handicap promises an exciting line‑up, headlined by Soldier Of The Sea, who tops an eleven‑horse field. William Knight’s charge, a maiden winner at Ffos Las in June, has shown steady improvement, finishing fourth in a novice at Ascot and now makes an appealing debut in this handicap.
For fans on the go, the latest racing news, interviews and features are available on mobile, ensuring you never miss a story. Sydney Grace, a Carlisle novice winner, carries a two‑pound penalty after a narrow defeat on her nursery debut at Wolverhampton. Mirzimaan, who claimed a Newbury novice earlier in the season, disappointed in a York nursery last month, and the market will likely reflect that form.
On the international stage, Auteuil’s Group 3 Prix Robert Lejeune at 10.42 am will see Huron Bleu and Navy Du Seuil lock horns, while French hurdling champion Losange Bleu headlines the Prix de Compiegne at 12.27 pm. Back in Britain, Wopbopaloomop leads a thirteen‑runner field in Southwell’s opening 4.20 pm Virgin 512 Nursery Handicap, with trainer Richard Spencer aiming for another victory despite a six‑pound weight increase. Later at Southwell, the 6.30 pm Sky Sports Racing Sky 415 EBF Restricted Novice Stakes will see Peaberry start for Tom Ward, following a clash between Zachary Hickes and Heroics in a Goffs Two Million Series Handicap.
Overall, the Yarmouth Festival’s final day offers a rich tapestry of talent, from seasoned handicap specialists to promising novices, all set against the backdrop of live Sky Sports Racing coverage. Whether you are backing a proven winner like Deep Havana, hoping for an upset from Pilu, or tracking the progress of emerging stars such as Level Look and Soldier Of The Sea, there is plenty of action to keep racing enthusiasts engaged throughout the afternoon.