Thursday’s racing programme at Southwell promises high-quality All-Weather action, broadcast live on Sky Sports Racing, headlined by a compelling clash in the sky sports Racing Virgin 512 Handicap.
The feature race sees recent winners Fiorella Princess and Elvetham go head-to-head. Fiorella Princess enters as the topweight after a dominant performance at Yarmouth earlier this month, where she won a handicap by five lengths under Billy Loughnane. She carries a five-pound penalty but remains strongly fancied to replicate that success.
Her main rival, Elvetham, secured her fourth career victory at Lingfield 23 days ago, winning comfortably over the same trip. Despite rising in class, the filly commands respect and is set to run against other contenders including Nabati, who reverses form with Arapaho Gold, and Court Drive, who may find extra improvement with a visor after finishing second as favorite at Yarmouth on her most recent outing.
Also on the shortlist are Isle Of Lismore and Got The Booty. Blake, commenting on the sport, noted that jockeys like Saffie just require an opportunity to shine.
At 8:00 pm, the Sky Sports Racing Sky 415 Fillies’ Handicap offers an open contest with 13 runners. Ed Dunlop’s consistent filly Emma’s Letter faces a stern test; she recently turned in a convincing performance to win at Newmarket and carries high hopes under Loughnane. James Horton and Daniel Muscutt saddle Hamdania, who starts from a handicap debut mark of 74. She won by a nose at Wolverhampton and followed up with a credible second at Lingfield.
Other notable entries in the evening feature include Aunt Roberta, another handicap debutant trained by George Scott, alongside Kino Plasmat and Lucy The Wire, both warranting further inspection.
Earlier in the card at 6:30 pm, the Free Bets Onattheraces.com Novice Stakes over six furlongs features Pulse Of Fire and Lady Henshaw. Ed Walker’s Pulse Of Fire showed promise with an early speed display to take third at Redcar and could prove difficult to catch. Patrick Owen’s Lady Henshaw builds on an encouraging second at Pontefract and runs without a hood under jockey Jack Mitchell.
The Boughey team highlights Hunstanton, a Night Of Thunder colt who is worth close attention in the betting, while Champion Crown returns following wind and gelding surgery with cheekpieces added.
In other racing news, Leading Times, rated 79, tops a five-runner field at Southwell in the 7:00 pm race. Additionally, Fabre’s Puck is expected to be a useful performer at Compiegne in the 1:30 pm event.
Great card tonight. Love a proper all-weather clash under the lights, especially with the Sky Sports crew.
Southwell speed figures can be deceptive sometimes. I’ll be watching how Hunstanton settles.
Is Emma’s Letter a solid bet for the Fillies’ Handicap? Dunlop’s runners are always consistent lately.
I missed the Elvetham race at Lingfield. Has she really won by that margin? Good to see her back.
Fiorella Princess looks incredibly well-handicapped. That five-length win at Yarmouth was no fluke.