Doncaster, Lingfield and Southwell stage Thursday racing with full live coverage on Sky Sports Racing.
2.25 Doncaster – Virgin Bet Daily Price Boosts Handicap Hurdle
Storming George and I m A Lumberjack head a six-runner field for the handicap hurdle at Doncaster. Storming George caught the eye when scoring over hurdles at this course on only his second start in November, then stepped up to contest the Grade One Formby Novices Hurdle at Aintree where he failed to match expectations. Now making his handicap debut with Jack Quinlan aboard, he arrives with more to prove.
Trainer Alan King saddles I m A Lumberjack, who brings consistent handicap form to the race, including a close second at Newbury in December off a 3 lb lower mark. The slightly shorter trip at Doncaster could play to his strengths. Huffin An A Puffin, a winner of a Newbury novices hurdle in March 2024, returns after a long 685-day absence and represents an interesting comeback proposition. Smokerinthedark, who finished second to Fasol at Musselburgh last time, returns off the same mark of 119 and is expected to be competitive.
7.00 Southwell – Win 250,000 With BetMGM’s Golden Goals Handicap
Aisling Oscar headlines an 11-runner renewal as he attempts to extend a remarkable sequence. The Adrian Keatley-trained five-year-old landed a seventh successive victory at Newcastle despite a 5 lb rise and connections will hope he can carry that form onto this different all-weather surface and make it an eight-timer.
Marry The Night, the bottom-weight, has thrived on the all-weather and added a second success over this track and trip when holding off Amarachi most recently; he climbs 3 lb but looks likely to be prominent again with Sean Kirrane in the plate. Soames Forsyte, successful over course and distance 19 days ago, remains in form and could benefit if a strong pace develops. Bojan Bandit is often prominent in races and could run a solid race for Patrick Morris.
2.45 Lingfield – attheraces.com Marketmovers Maiden Hurdle
Largy Go makes his debut over hurdles for Jonjo and A. J. O Neill after an eye-catching point-to-point campaign. A comfortable winner of a Loughbrickland maiden point-to-point in March, he was bought for 305,000 at the Goffs Aintree Sale in April and is likely to be popular in the betting with Jonjo O Neill Jr taking the ride.
West Along, trained by Richard Rowe, shaped well when third in a Fontwell bumper on Boxing Day and should be sharper now tackling hurdles. Love You Black was backed to favoritism on his first jump outing at Warwick in November and deserves respect returning from a short break. Felix Maximus is another newcomer to note, being related to high-earner Zurekin.
Other races to watch
Doncaster s 1.15 Virgin Bet EBF Junior National Hunt Hurdle features a number of interesting types, including Milou Du Chenet who bids for a hat-trick for Warren Greatrex, and Mustang Du Breuil, recently transferred to Nicky Henderson after a successful debut at Auteuil for JP McManus.
Later on at Southwell, a Frankel colt named Shabab Al Ahli makes his racecourse debut for Charlie Appleby in the BetMGM Supports Safer Gambling Novice Stakes (5.30). Keep an eye on the market for how he fares on debut.
All three meetings will be shown live on Sky Sports Racing, offering a packed card of handicaps, maidens and intriguing debutants to follow.