A busy day of racing on Sky Sports Racing features two jump meetings and a flat card, with key action at Chepstow, Yarmouth and Southwell.
2.15 Chepstow — Tiptop Clean Convenience Handicap Hurdle
Unbeaten Authodidacte attempts to make it three straight wins for her current connections. Trained by Venetia Williams, the six-year-old, who won twice on the Flat in France, has taken to hurdles quickly with victories at Leicester and Uttoxeter. This is only her second handicap outing following a break, and she is expected to attract plenty of support despite coming into the race after a couple of minor setbacks.
Lacrima is an interesting newcomer for jockey-trainer partnership Nick Scholfield; although his form is harder to assess—he arrives having won his last three starts over fences—he merits close attention in the market on hurdling debut. Other horses to watch include Doctors Hill, while The Kemble Brewery reverts to hurdles after a fall over fences here in November.
2.37 Yarmouth — tigerbet.co.uk National Extra Places Paid Novice Stakes
Del Maro, a useful three-year-old from Charlie Appleby’s stable, heads a compact five-runner field. By Camelot, he posted a notable third in the Zetland Stakes at Newmarket behind Derby favourite Pierre Bonnard and is expected to break his maiden with William Buick booked to ride.
Knowledge, who narrowly beat Venetian Prince on his debut at Southwell, steps up to 10 furlongs and looks the main danger under James Doyle. Debutant Florentine Law, a half-brother to multiple winners including Marquisat, has appeal on paper. The remaining runners are The King’s Point Of Law and Juddmonte-owned Sintra.
5.45 Southwell — Book The Bistro In Sherwood Restaurant Maiden Stakes
King Of Thebes is one to note on his first start for Charlie Appleby. A high-priced yearling purchase at 1.5 million guineas, he has been gelded since sale and is a half-brother to the useful Morgan Le Faye, making him an exciting prospect on debut.
Roger Varian’s Al Azd, rated 83 after five starts, can’t be dismissed—he has finished runner-up on his last three trips and returns in blinkers as he steps up a furlong. Sailor Song, representing Appleby and trainer Toby Moore, looks the stable’s second string after improving from his debut to finish second to High Storm at Doncaster; with that rival now rated 85, Sailor Song should be competitive.
Those are the key runners to monitor across the three venues, with form, market clues and jockey bookings likely to shape each race as the cards unfold.