Today on Sky Sports Racing: Fontwell and Southwell Set for Thrilling Thursday Actio

Horse racing fans are in for a treat as Sky Sports Racing delivers live coverage from two action-packed venues — Fontwell and Southwell — on Thursday. Both tracks feature competitive line-ups, promising exciting showdowns and plenty of betting opportunities for racing enthusiasts.

At Fontwell, the focus will be on Paul Nicholls’ classy runner Paso Doble, who makes his much-anticipated return to hurdling, while Southwell boasts a high-quality nine-race card that includes a maiden contest headlined by promising fillies Al Durry and Too Farhh Gone, along with a fiercely competitive evening sprint.

Paso Doble Eyes Redemption at Fontwell

Trainer Paul Nicholls, one of Britain’s most successful National Hunt trainers, sends Paso Doble back over hurdles after a mixed spell chasing last season. The seven-year-old, a dual winner over hurdles, struggled to make an impact when last seen over fences in April. Now, with the fences behind him, the talented gelding will look to regain his form in Thursday’s feature Handicap Hurdle at Fontwell.

Paso Doble will be partnered by talented conditional jockey Freddie Gingell and steps up in distance — a move that could play to his strengths. Nicholls’ decision to revert the horse to hurdles suggests confidence that the smaller obstacles will suit him better.

However, the challenge will be stiff. Among the rivals is George’s Lad, trained by Emma Lavelle, who looked in excellent shape before an untimely fall in a competitive race at Sandown earlier this year. If he has fully recovered and regained his confidence, Lavelle’s charge could prove a formidable opponent.

Adding intrigue to the contest is jockey Harry Cobden’s decision to ride George’s Lad instead of sticking with Nicholls’ Paso Doble — a choice that could hint at which horse connections believe has the stronger winning chance.

Lavelle’s yard has enjoyed steady form in recent weeks, and George’s Lad’s previous performances suggest he is more than capable of capitalizing on a clean round of jumping.

Gordon’s Goodwin and Aggagio in the Mix

The Chris Gordon stable, which has been in superb form at Fontwell this season with four wins from nine starts, fields another strong contender in Goodwin. The horse won convincingly by four lengths on his last visit to the Sussex track in September and returns in similar company.

Aggagio, another runner to watch, makes a return to the jumps scene after a stint on the Flat. The five-year-old has shown versatility across both codes and could surprise if he rediscovers his old rhythm over hurdles.

The combination of Nicholls, Lavelle, and Gordon ensures this Fontwell card offers a blend of proven experience and exciting narratives — setting the stage for a compelling afternoon of racing.

Southwell: A Deep Evening Card with Big Potential

As the sun sets, Southwell takes center stage with a stacked nine-race card that highlights a blend of unexposed talent and experienced handicappers looking to bounce back.

The 6:00 p.m. Best Odds Guaranteed At BetMGM Maiden Fillies’ Stakes headlines the early part of the card, bringing together some highly promising three-year-olds.

Al Durry and Too Farhh Gone Headline Maiden Contest

Owen Burrows’ Al Durry, running in the iconic Shadwell silks, has quickly made a name for herself as one to watch. After finishing a solid third on debut at Lingfield, she improved dramatically to finish a close second at Chelmsford behind True Colors. That performance showcased both speed and stamina — key traits that make her the filly to beat at Southwell.

Too Farhh Gone, trained by Eve Johnson Houghton, is another standout. Although outpaced early on her debut at Southwell last month, she ran on powerfully in the closing stages, signaling strong potential for improvement. With natural progression and a better break from the stalls, she could easily challenge for top honors under jockey Charlie Bishop.

Also in contention is Jazzy Baby, who has displayed steady progress across two career starts, including a competitive effort when finishing behind Al Durry at Chelmsford. The consistent filly should be in the mix again if she continues her upward trajectory.

Cheveley Park Stud’s To Be Honest enters the contest with the capable Harry Davies booked to ride, and could also emerge as a dark horse. Meanwhile, Marco Botti introduces an intriguing debutant — Threshold, a Nathaniel filly — whose breeding suggests she may appreciate the Southwell surface and the mile trip.

With several unexposed runners and plenty of early promise among the field, this race could produce future winners well beyond Thursday’s result.

Competitive Sprint to Close the Evening Card

The 7:30 p.m. Make The Move To Midnite Handicap brings together a strong 12-runner field, featuring some eye-catching sprinters who could light up Southwell’s all-weather track.

Charles Hills’ Hoodie Hoo, once tipped as a potential star after an impressive all-weather win in March, has struggled to maintain consistency since. However, he returned to form recently with an excellent runner-up finish at Nottingham. Carrying a modest 3lb higher mark this time, Hoodie Hoo remains an appealing proposition in this grade and could capitalize on the right early pace.

Nazuki, trained by Marco Botti, will be looking to convert strong recent runs into a win. The filly’s third-place finish at Doncaster over seven furlongs was an encouraging performance, and the drop back to six furlongs could play to her strengths. Despite being winless in three handicap starts, she has shown glimpses of ability that make her one to watch closely.

Adding further spice to the race is the presence of other competitive sprinters seeking to establish themselves in handicap company. The pace scenario promises to be lively, setting up the possibility of a thrilling finish under the floodlights.

Looking Ahead: Rising Form and Betting Angles

The Fontwell and Southwell meetings provide punters with rich variety — from the testing jumps at Fontwell to the tactical all-weather racing at Southwell.

Paso Doble’s return to hurdles will attract significant betting interest, particularly given the horse’s history under Nicholls’ care. Whether the gelding can translate his class into winning form will be key to Fontwell’s feature race. Meanwhile, George’s Lad and Goodwin are both legitimate threats, adding depth to the betting markets.

At Southwell, the Al Durry versus Too Farhh Gone matchup is the one to watch. Both fillies have shown glimpses of top potential and are likely to dominate the market. Punters looking for value might consider Jazzy Baby as a lively outsider, given her consistency and improvement curve.

In the evening finale, Hoodie Hoo’s recent resurgence and Nazuki’s consistency create an intriguing head-to-head dynamic. Track conditions will play a pivotal role — any bias toward front-runners could make Hoodie Hoo the one to catch.

Trainer Watch: Nicholls, Lavelle, and Burrows in Focus

Paul Nicholls remains a dominant force in British racing, and his decision to return Paso Doble to hurdles underscores his tactical adaptability. The Ditcheat yard’s runners often improve sharply when switched back to familiar disciplines, making Thursday’s feature particularly noteworthy.

Emma Lavelle, on the other hand, continues to build momentum with her growing stable of progressive types. George’s Lad, if able to exorcise the ghost of his Sandown fall, could be one of her season’s highlights.

Owen Burrows’ Shadwell-owned filly Al Durry will also be under the microscope. The trainer’s patient approach has consistently yielded results with lightly raced horses, and another polished performance could cement Al Durry’s status as a filly with Group potential.

Final Word

Thursday’s dual coverage from Fontwell and Southwell promises an entertaining mix of hurdles drama, maiden excitement, and high-speed sprint action. From Paso Doble’s redemption quest to the rising talent of Al Durry and Too Farhh Gone, the day’s racing encapsulates the variety and thrill that makes British racing so compelling.

As fans and punters tune in to Sky Sports Racing, one thing is certain — whether it’s the grassy turns of Fontwell or the floodlit straight of Southwell, there will be no shortage of stories, surprises, and standout performances.