The three‑day Yarmouth festival draws to a close on Thursday, culminating in a seven‑race card that will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Racing. Among the headline attractions are recent winners Deep Havana and Pilu, both of whom are expected to be among the leading contenders in the Boodles Handicap, a race featuring a field of twelve horses.
Deep Havana will be ridden by Hamad Al Jehani. The gelding earned his first victory for trainer Wathnan when he edged out Yes I’m Mali by a head at Thirsk. Despite carrying a five‑pound penalty for that win, the Wathnan‑owned horse remains a strong prospect for the Yarmouth contest, and connections are hopeful he can build on his recent success. Pilu, trained by Roger Teal, is another horse to watch.
After dropping in class, Pilu captured a Newmarket handicap in impressive fashion, and he now goes off at a respectable price under the guidance of jockey Joe Leavy. The combination of a proven trainer and a confident rider makes Pilu a serious threat in a race that could be decided by a matter of inches. Also in the mix is Westport, who will be wearing cheekpieces for the first time this season. The connections hope the equipment change will help the horse return to winning form after a recent dip in performance.
Kempton runner‑up Art Lover, now in the care of William Haggas and partnered by Tom Marquand, is another name that has attracted attention, while Darn Hot, carrying three pounds less than his last winning mark for trainer Ed Walker, could also prove to be a factor. Further down the card, the Southwell Handicap will feature last‑time winners Dojin and Level Look.
Dojin, who broke his maiden in a tight finish at Newmarket last month while sporting a new hood for the first time, looks well‑placed to repeat that form in a similar race. Level Look, the only three‑year‑old entered by Andrew Balding, doubled his career tally with an easy win at Wolverhampton and will be stretched out to two miles under Callum Hutchinson, suggesting he may have the stamina to stay the distance. The weekend’s other notable stories include Almekarem, who is backed for a handicap victory at Newbury on Saturday, and Stem, who also enjoys strong support from the betting market.
In the women’s division, Hollie Doyle will ride Arapaho Gold for Michael Dods in the Mill Reef Stakes at Newbury, aiming to extend the filly’s unbeaten run. Sky Sports Racing will also feature a clash between Spy Chief and Catullus at Newbury, with additional live coverage from Newton Abbot and Wolverhampton later on Friday.
The network’s racing round‑up highlights Almeraq’s upcoming return to Ascot for Champions Day, while Fairy Glen is well‑fancied in the John Musker Fillies’ Stakes at Yarmouth. The Eastern Festival at Yarmouth kicks off with an exciting slate of novice races, offering a platform for emerging talent to showcase their abilities. Fans can stay up‑to‑date with the latest horse racing news, interviews, and features by following Sky Sports Racing’s digital platforms.
In other entries, Charging Thunder and New York Minute round out the quartet of contenders, with New York Minute boasting a strong record over the course and distance, highlighted by a 14‑length victory back in 2025 for trainer Joey Ramsden. The Dan Hague Rails Bookmaker Nursery Handicap will see Soldier Of The Sea head a field of eleven, while William Knight’s charge, who broke his maiden at Ffos Las in June and later placed fourth in a novice at Ascot, looks to make an impact on his handicap debut. Sydney Grace, a Carlisle novice winner, will be carrying two pounds more after a narrow defeat on her nursery debut at Wolverhampton. Mirzimaan, who claimed a Newbury novice earlier in the campaign but underperformed in a York nursery last month, may find his odds softened as the market reassesses his chances.
On the international stage, Auteuil’s Group 3 Prix Robert Lejeune at 10:42 am will pit Huron Bleu against Navy Du Seuil, while French hurdling star Losange Bleu headlines the Prix de Compiegne at 12:27 pm. Back in the UK, Wopbopaloomop tops a thirteen‑horse field in Southwell’s opening Virgin 512 Nursery Handicap at 4:20 pm, with trainer Richard Spencer seeking another win despite a six‑pound weight increase. Later at Southwell, the Sky Sports Racing Sky 415 EBF Restricted Novice Stakes at 6:30 pm will see Peaberry take the post for Tom Ward, following a showdown between Zachary Hickes and Heroics in a Goffs Two Million Series Handicap. All of these races, along with the Yarmouth Boodles Handicap, promise a thrilling finale to a festival that has delivered a mix of seasoned campaigners and promising newcomers, ensuring plenty of excitement for racing enthusiasts both on the track and in front of their screens.