The three‑day Yarmouth Festival is drawing to a close on Thursday, and the final day promises a packed seven‑race card that will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Racing. Among the headline events is the Boodles Handicap, a twelve‑runner contest that will see two recent winners, Deep Havana and Pilu, line up against a strong field of seasoned campaigners and promising newcomers. Deep Havana, trained by the respected Wathnan operation, will be ridden by Hamad Al Jehani. The bay gelding secured his first victory for the stable at Thirsk, edging out Yes I’m Mali by a head.
That win earned him a five‑pound penalty, but the connections believe the horse still has plenty of room to improve. Owner Wathnan is confident that the added weight will not deter the gelding from repeating his recent success, especially given the relatively soft ground that often favours horses with a turn of foot. Pilu, on the other hand, arrives in Yarmford under the guidance of jockey Joe Leavy. The horse was dropped in class for a Newmarket handicap where he produced a spirited performance, finishing strongly in a fast‑paced race.
Trainer Roger Teal sees Pilu as a serious contender in the Boodles Handicap, noting that the horse’s recent form suggests he thrives when given a clear run and the chance to settle before making a late surge. Other notable runners include Westport, who will be wearing cheekpieces for the first time this season in an attempt to sharpen his focus. The gelding has been hovering around the place positions in recent outings and looks eager to snap a win. Art Lover, a runner who placed second at Kempton, will be partnered by Tom Marquand for William Haggas.
The horse has shown a strong turn of foot over middle distances and could be a key player if the race unfolds at a brisk tempo. Ed Walker’s Darn Hot is also worth watching. The horse is carrying three pounds less than his last winning mark, which could give him the extra edge needed to challenge for the lead. Meanwhile, the Southwell market offers a separate story with Dojin and Level Look featuring in a trappy handicap.
Dojin, fresh from a tight finish at Newmarket where he donned a new hood for the first time, appears well‑suited to the conditions and could repeat his recent success. Level Look, the only three‑year‑old in the Southwell field, doubled his career tally with an easy win at Wolverhampton last week.
Trained by Andrew Balding and piloted by Callum Hutchinson, the colt is stepping up to a two‑mile distance and could prove his stamina is more than sufficient for the challenge. The festival also includes a variety of other storylines.
Almekarem is backed for a handicap victory at Newbury on Saturday, while Stem remains a fancied contender in the same meeting. Jockey Hollie Doyle will mount Arapaho Gold in the Mill Reef Stakes at Newbury, hoping to extend the horse’s unbeaten run. Sky Sports Racing will also feature a clash between Spy Chief and Catullus at Newbury, along with live coverage from Newton Abbot and Wolverhampton later in the day. In other news, Almeraq is set for a return to Ascot on Champions Day, and Fairy Glen is well‑fancied in the John Musker Fillies’ Stakes at Yarmouth.
The Eastern Festival at Yarmouth kicks off with exciting novice action, offering a platform for emerging talent to showcase their abilities. Among the novices, Sydney Grace, who claimed a Carlisle novice win, will be carrying two pounds more after a narrow defeat on her nursery debut at Wolverhampton.
Mirzimaan, a Newbury novice winner, looks to rebound after a disappointing run in a York nursery last month. Internationally, the French racing calendar features the G3 Prix Robert Lejeune at Auteuil, where Huron Bleu and Navy Du Seuil will meet, followed by Losange Bleu headlining the Prix de Compiegne.
Back in the UK, Wopbopaloomop tops a thirteen‑runner field in Southwell’s Virgin 512 Nursery Handicap, with trainer Richard Spencer aiming for another victory despite a six‑pound penalty. Also at Southwell, the Sky Sports Racing Sky 415 EBF Restricted Novice Stakes will see Peaberry post for Tom Ward, while the Goffs Two Million Series Handicap will feature a clash between Zachary Hickes and Heroics. Overall, Thursday’s Boodles Handicap at Yarmouth promises a thrilling finale to a festival that has delivered a mix of surprise winners, strong performances from established stars, and plenty of betting intrigue. Whether Deep Havana can defend his recent form, Pilu can capitalize on his class drop, or an underdog like Westport or Art Lover can pull off an upset, the race is set to provide a fitting climax to an eventful week of British flat racing.