Yarmouth's three-day Eastern Festival draws to a close on Thursday with a seven-race card broadcast live on Sky Sports Racing, culminating a busy week of racing at the Norfolk track.
The festival, which ran from Tuesday 15 September through Thursday 17 September 2026, has delivered competitive racing across all three days, with seven races scheduled for each afternoon.
3.45 Yarmouth - Pilu takes centre stage as Deep Havana withdrawn
The headline race of the day is the Class 3 Boodles Handicap over 6 furlongs, originally featuring 12 runners but reduced to 11 after a significant late withdrawal. According to Racing Post, Deep Havana was declared a non-runner, removing one of the race's most interesting contenders from the field.
Deep Havana, trained by Hamad Al Jehani and owned by Wathnan, had impressed when landing a first success for the yard at Thirsk, where the horse defeated Yes I'm Mali by a head. The 5lbs penalty incurred for that victory would have made this a stern test, but the withdrawal leaves the door open for other contenders.
Roger Teal's Pilu now emerges as a standout player in the race. The horse capitalised on a drop in class to land a Newmarket handicap in commanding fashion last time out and carries the colours of Joe Leavy in the saddle. The combination looks well-suited to the conditions and must rate among the strongest fancies.
According to Racing Post's betting forecast, Kodi Lion was installed as the 4/1 favourite in the early market, ahead of Deep Havana and Pilu, though the withdrawal of the Wathnan runner has reshaped the market dynamics considerably.
Westport bids to return to winning ways with the aid of cheekpieces, while Art Lover, runner-up at Kempton, catches the eye for William Haggas and Tom Marquand. So Darn Hot also merits consideration, now sitting 3lbs below the mark at which he last tasted success for Ed Walker.
The winning prize stands at £9,631 with guaranteed prize money of £18,400, making this a valuable contest. Going at Yarmouth on the day was good to soft with light rain reported, which may influence the running styles of the field.
5.25 Southwell - Recent winners Dojin and Level Look lead the charge
At Southwell, the attheraces.com/marketmovers Handicap brings together a pair of last-time winners in Dojin and Level Look, both seeking to build on recent victories.
Dojin secured a tight finish at Newmarket last month, sporting a first-time hood in the process, and must carry an excellent chance in this similar heat. The horse's recent form suggests it is well-suited to the task at hand.
Andrew Balding's Level Look, the sole three-year-old in the field, doubled his career tally when winning easily at Wolverhampton last week. The horse looks capable of better as it steps up to two miles under Callum Hutchinson, suggesting further improvement may be forthcoming.
Charging Thunder and New York Minute complete the quartet. The latter boasts course and distance form, having recorded a 14-length success back in 2025 for trainer Joey Ramsden, and that previous victory at the track may prove relevant.
3.15 Yarmouth - Soldier Of The Sea leads strong nursery field
A competitive line-up has assembled for the Dan Hague, Rails Bookmaker Nursery Handicap, where Soldier Of The Sea tops a field of 11 runners.
William Knight's charge took a Ffos Las maiden on his first start back in June and has demonstrated a decent level of ability since that success. The horse finished fourth in a novice at Ascot and makes an appealing case on this handicap debut, suggesting the step up in class may suit.
Sydney Grace carries a Carlisle novice success to her name and is up 2lbs for a narrow defeat on nursery debut at Wolverhampton last time. The filly will be seeking to bounce back from that close-run effort.
Mirzimaan claimed a Newbury novice earlier in the campaign but disappointed in a York nursery last month. The market will likely guide the horse's chances as connections seek to find a more suitable opportunity.
Best of the rest
Internationally, Auteuil's G3 Prix Robert Lejeune at 10.42am features an exciting clash between Huron Bleu and Navy Du Seuil. Later, French hurdling supremo Losange Bleu headlines the Prix de Compiegne at 12.27pm.
Back on home soil at Southwell, Wopbopaloomop tops 13 runners in the opening 4.20pm Sky Sports Racing Virgin 512 Nursery Handicap. Trainer Richard Spencer has been in excellent form recently and will be targeting another success despite a 6lbs hike in the weights.
Also at Southwell, the 6.30pm Sky Sports Racing Sky 415 EBF Restricted Novice Stakes features Peaberry for Tom Ward, while Zachary Hickes and Heroics clash in a nice Goffs Two Million Series Handicap.
