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Saffie Osborne celebrates Racing League hat-trick

29 August 2024/in Horse Racing News/by Geegeez News

Saffie Osborne once again took the starring role in the Racing League as a final night treble at Southwell ensured a third successive top jockey trophy.

Having helped her father Jamie Osborne’s Wales & The West region claim the Racing League title with a three-timer at the concluding fixture at Newcastle in 2022, she led the standings from start to finish as she defended her crown in style 12 months ago.

Her quest for a third title has not been as straightforward, but she headed into the final week of six in her usual spot at the top of the jockeys’ table and that was where she remained after laying down a marker in the first two races of the night in Nottinghamshire.

Saffie Osborne receiving her top jockey trophy at Southwell (PA)

After guiding Ian Williams’ Dancing In Paris and Edward Smyth-Osbourne’s Noodle Mission to success, she then showed her style and strength to pick up her third victory aboard Ed Walker’s Fantasy Believer, a win which was enough to secure top spot before the final race of the competition.

Chasing duo Billy Loughnane and Daniel Muscutt both registered victories on the card, but neither could wrestle away Osborne’s supremacy to signal a double celebration for the family.

She said: “I thought all my rides tonight had nice chances without being certainties. I thought I would be lucky to come here and have three winners, but it was probably what was going to be needed looking at Danny and Billy’s rides. I’m just lucky it fell right on the night.

“It’s one of those games where some days you can turn up to the races with great rides and it all goes wrong, then some days you get lucky and today was one of those days.

Wales & The West Win the Racing League 🏆🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

Saffie Osborne's hot streak just keeps going, as she wins with Fantasy Believer 🔥#ITVRacing | @RacingLeagueUK | @OsborneSaffie pic.twitter.com/IXYMqkdDUe

— ITV Racing (@itvracing) August 29, 2024

“The Racing League has been brilliant for me and maybe not so much this year as I’m riding for trainers I ride for anyway, but definitely as an apprentice I was riding for trainers I didn’t necessarily ride for and built relationships on the back of that.

“For this competition to be on ITV every week is brilliant, it’s a competition that has done a lot for me and I’m eternally grateful.

“It’s cool and it’s easy for me to say this competition is great, but it’s a brilliant concept and people want to knock it for the sake of it, but it brings great prize-money to meetings that wouldn’t normally have it for that grade of horse.

Dancing in Paris and Saffie Osborne in action at Southwell (Mike Egerton/PA)

“I’m especially happy for dad, it’s all he talks about for six weeks of the year. He puts his life and soul into it and when he rings me, I’m thinking ‘please don’t talk to me about Racing League’ as he rings me most days to talk about what he is thinking of running and my opinion. I’m just glad I don’t have to have any more phonecalls this year talking Racing League.”

Her proud father added: “Obviously she has got an advantage, Jack Mitchell pointed that out to me this morning and I suggested that maybe Philip Mitchell should become a team manager next year.

“It’s inevitable I am going to attempt to win it for her as well and thankfully all of the trainers in my team are happy to use Saffie and it’s great for her. It’s financially rewarding for her and it’s also financially rewarding for our stable staff.”

Southwell treble seals Racing League glory for Wales & The West

29 August 2024/in Horse Racing News/by Geegeez News

A final night treble rocketed Wales & The West to a second Racing League title at Southwell.

Jamie Osborne’s region pounced on the closing card to be crowned Racing League champions in 2022, but the hunters became the hunted 12 months ago as they surrendered their trophy to Ireland in the very last race of the competition.

After a slow start to the six-week event this time around, Wales & The West found themselves in their customary position at the top of the standings heading to Nottinghamshire, holding a 41.5 point advantage over London & The South in second.

Although Matt Chapman’s team put up a real fight, it was Wales & The West who confirmed themselves as the dominant force in the Racing League thanks to their three winners on the night.

Jamie Osborne lifts the Racing League trophy (PA)

Team manager Osborne said: “I was deeply scarred by our defeat last year, when we managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory and it’s a huge relief.

“I’ve had a great, committed team of trainers who have all bought into the concept. Ultimately that has meant we have had the most runners and we have probably been the most consistent, and that is all down to the trainers who have backed me to do the job.”

Osborne boxed smart in the early stages of Southwell’s card, successfully playing his joker as Ian Williams’ Dancing In Paris (4-1) landed the opening Tote.co.uk It’s The Final Countdown Racing League R36 Handicap in the hands of Saffie Osborne.

With her father successfully playing his joker, the jockey said: “I think he was keen to try to get that right this year, he was fairly unlucky with his joker last year.

“It looked like the right race to play it in last year on paper, it just didn’t work out, but luckily today it did.”

The rider then doubled her tally aboard Edward Smyth-Osbourne’s 10-1 shot Noodle Mission in the Tote.co.uk It’s A 3 Horse Race Racing League R37 Handicap.

She secured a treble on the night aboard Ed Walker’s Fantasy Believer (14-1) in the Tote.co.uk Who’ll Take The Crown Racing League R41 Handicap as she went on to win the top jockey prize for the third year running.

Manxman and Daniel Muscutt in action at Southwell (Mike Egerton/PA)

Daniel Muscutt had to settle for second in the race for top jockey but could at least take comfort in partnering Manxman (4-1) to win the Tote.co.uk It’s Not Over Yet Racing League R39 Handicap.

Simon and Ed Crisford’s consistent four-year-old brought an end to the winning run of Sir Mark Prescott’s Warmonger as he led home a one-two for Chris Hughes’ East region.

Muscutt said: “The Prescott horse was the one to beat on paper and I was able to track him into the race from the three-pole.

“I was able to work my way into the race and he let down well. The all-weather was a question mark but he seemed to enjoy it.”

Another jockey who has enjoyed a fine Racing League is Billy Loughnane and he teamed up with trainer George Boughey to ride two winners for the Ireland team.

Thunder Moor won the finale for Billy Loughnane (Mike Egerton/PA)

Oliver Show (11-2) struck for the duo in the Tote.co.uk Joins The Racing App Racing League R40 Handicap, while Thunder Moor got the best of a thrilling three-way finish to replicate his win of last year in the closing Tote.co.uk Big Finale Racing League R42 Handicap.

Meanwhile, there was a win for Derbyshire-born Ben Robinson aboard Brian Ellison’s Northern Spirit (15-2) in the Tote.co.uk Live On The Racing App Racing League R38 Handicap, as Mick Quinn’s North region avoided picking up the wooden spoon.

“It’s nice to get sort of a local winner – I’m from Derbyshire – and it’s great the Racing League with good prize-money so you can’t complain,” said Robinson.

“Brian’s horses are in great form and he ran well at Newcastle and was unlucky not to win over five. Six furlongs today really played to his strengths.”

Racing Insights, Thursday 29/08/24

28 August 2024/in Racing Insights/by Chris Worrall

Thursday's free feature, the Instant Expert racecard tab is one of Geegeez readers' most popular tools because it has the unique ability to condense the entire form profile of every runner in the race into a single, easily digestible, view covering the form in terms of wins (or places), runs, and win (or place) percentage for each of going, class, course, distance, and field size.

It also compares today’s official rating with the horse’s last winning official rating. The display is colour coded: green for a higher percentage rate, amber for a middling percentage, and red for a low percentage. Horses with no form under a certain condition have grey figures.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Where a horse has no UK/Irish form – i.e. it is having its first run in Britain or Ireland under Rules – it will not show up on Instant Expert at all.

We make this feature freely available to ALL readers EVERY Thursday for ALL races, including, naturally, our selection of 'free' races as follows...

2.55 Ffos Las
4.00 Navan
5.05 Navan
5.20 Newbury
7.12 Southwell

...and as Thursday night is Racing League Night, we're off to Nottinghamshire for the 7.12 Southwell for race 39, an 11-runner, Class 3, 3yo+ A/W handicap over 8 yards shy of 2m½f on standard tapeta...

...where bottom weight (thanks to his 3yo 12lb weight allowance) Warmonger is the form horse, having won each of his last three starts. Cardano also won last time out, whilst Solent Gateway and Manxman had top three finishes. Those without a win in seven starts, however include Solent Gateway and Soowaih after eleven and ten consecutive defeats respectively, whilst Boldly is a nine-race maiden.

Only Wahraan (4th of 8), Manxman (3rd of 11) and Cinnodin (5th of 11) raced at this Class 3 level last time out as Solent Gateway, Cardano, Robusto, Boldly, Soowaih and Le Rouge Chinois all step up a class. Form horse Warmonger is up two levels, but Shagpyle does drop in class here.

The entire field have raced at least once in the last eight weeks and Cinnodin is the only previous course winner of the five to have visited this venue, having landed a Class 6, 1m6f handicap here back in April 2023. He and five others have also won over a similar trip to this one, but Wahraan, Cardano, Boldly, Soowaih and Le Rouge Chinois are yet to score at either track or trip, whilst Instant Expert says none of the field have a Class 3 win to their name in the last two years...

Robusto and Warmonger have a trio of wins at going/trip respectively and the only real alarm bells so far surround Solent Gateway's ability to win over 2m, having lost 11 of 12 attempts. he has made the frame in 4 of those defeats, but I won't be backing him today, especially after seeing the rest of his place form...

It's probably the end of the road for me with Wahraan too at this point as others seem better poised.

It's a two-mile race on standard going, so I wouldn't have expected any huge draw bias and wasn't surprised/ disappointed with the data, even if those drawn centrally have had slightly better results...

...and it's a bit of a mixed bag with pace too, as leaders and mid-division runners haven't done as well as the stalking prominent types or those held up for a late run...

...giving us quite a few draw/pace combos that have been reasonably successful...

...whilst in terms of this field's last few runs and their own pace/draw make-up...

...Solent Gateway, Robusto, Cardano, Soowaih and Warmonger are fully in the 'preferred zone' with Manxman just shy thanks to a hold up run two starts ago and Le Rouge Chinois on the cusp due to draw vagaries.

Summary

Solent Gateway, Robusto, Cardano, Soowaih, Warmonger, Manxman and Le Rouge Chinois would be the ones to consider from the pace/draw angle, but I ruled Solent Gateway out earlier and Soowaih has lost eleven on the bounce.

Of the remaining five runners, Cardano, Soowaih and Le Rouge Chinois have yert to win at either track or trip, leaving me with the form pair Manxman and Warmonger. Warmonger will find this tougher, up two classes and carrying a 10lb penalty for his last win. he's now rated 20lbs higher than two months ago and whilst he'll be popular here, I think he might be susceptible as a front-runner to getting reeled in by Manxman, who'll probably offer more value too.

A quick look at the market as of 4.25pm Wednesday backed up my theory...

...but I'd be happy to take Manxman and Warmonger as my 1-2. Some bookies wil pay four places here and if you were looking for some E/W action, then Cardano might fit the bill at 10/1 or bigger.

Four-timer gives Ireland hope of retaining Racing League title

22 August 2024/in Horse Racing News/by Geegeez News

Ireland gave themselves a fighting chance of retaining the Racing League title at Southwell next week following a fantastic four-timer at Newcastle on the penultimate night of action.

Kevin Blake’s team came out on top in a titanic tussle for the trophy last year but looked out of the running heading to Gosforth Park for night five of six.

However, Irish eyes were smiling in the north east as the defending champions roared back into some form of contention thanks to their four winners on the night.

It leaves them 110.5 points behind Wales and The West who take a 41.5 lead over London and The South to Nottinghamshire – mainly in thanks to Harry Charlton’s Ten Pounds (9-2) who claimed the feature tote.co.uk Let’s Gan Into Toon Racing League R35 Handicap in the manner of a top-class horse.

Kevin Blake oversees Team Ireland plans in the Racing League (Simon Marper/PA)

Blake said: “This looked the most competitive fixture of the competition so far and the North, Scotland and Yorkshire all had a big team of runners.

“I didn’t think anyone would be individually performing very well but when the luck bounces your way you take it.

“I thought I had a good, solid team, but I could just as easily had no winner and a bunch of them run well so you have to take it.”

Road To Wembley gave the Irish a brilliant start as Richard Hughes’ 2-1 favourite showed plenty of resolution to hold off the strong challenge of Sir Mark Prescott’s hat-trick seeking Almudena.

Road To Wembley ridden (centre right) winning the opener (Owen Humphreys/PA)

Finley Marsh’s mount lead home a one-three for the team in green in the tote.co.uk Wey Aye The Placepot Racing League R29 Handicap with the winning rider having plenty of confidence in the improving stayer.

Marsh said: “It was good placement from the boss and he got a good allowance here with the three-year-old allowance.

“It was a tactical race and they went slow and turned into a sprint. I had to get him ready and let him go when I did, I would rather have waited but I had full confidence in the horse.

“I saw a few creeping up on the outside as we knew it was going to be a sprint, but he picked up and I got a nice split and I didn’t mind kicking three-furlongs down as I knew he was going to get to the line and I couldn’t pull him up afterwards.”

Another one-three for Ireland! 🇮🇪🟢

Cloud Seeker wins the https://t.co/RYLCbI3ImR Alreet Pet Racing League R30 with Natzor coming in third 🥇#ITVRacing | @RacingLeagueUK | @AndrewSlattery7 | @kevinblake2011 pic.twitter.com/E5FbMcZB2S

— ITV Racing (@itvracing) August 22, 2024

There was drama before the off in the tote.co.uk Alreet Pet Racing League R30 Handicap as the East region’s big hope, Sir Michael Stoute’s Fox Legacy, was withdrawn at the start and allowing Andrew Slattery’s Irish raider Cloud Seeker to claim the spoils at odds of 5-1.

Marsh was then on the scoresheet for the second time in the tote.co.uk’s Canny Good Like Racing League R31 Handicap when Mark Loughnane’s Bright (12-1) continued Ireland’s fine night in the north east, before Kamboo gave Hughes a second winner of the evening and Ireland there fourth.

A runner in both the Derby and at Royal Ascot this summer, the son of Awtaad was sent off the 9-4 favourite for the tote.co.uk Howay The Lads Racing League R32 Handicap in the hands of Cieren Fallon and could have a bright future.

“He’s a beautiful horse who moves well and covers the ground easy,” Fallon told Sky Sports Racing.

“He’s got a great attitude, he’s off a really nice mark and I think he’s going to go through the ranks especially moving up in trip.”

Tolstoy pounced late at Newcastle (Owen Humphreys/PA)

The North registered a victory on their home patch as Newcastle’s own Brian Ellison saddled Tolstoy (15-2) to win the tote.co.uk Howay The Lasses Racing League R33 Handicap.

Team manager Mick Quinn said: “We’re on the board at our home track and it’s great to have at least one winner here.

“I’ve told Kevin from Ireland he won’t have another winner before the end of the meeting.”

Early pacesetters the East lost their position at the top of the standings at Windsor last week, but remain with a puncher’s chance of Racing League glory after James Fanshawe’s Heathcliff (6-1) sealed a maximum 25 points in the tote.co.uk Pure Belta Racing League R34 Handicap.

They finished the evening in third place in the table on 626 points, 63.5 adrift of Jamie Osborne’s 2022 champions Wales and The West.

Racing Insights, Thursday 22/08/24

21 August 2024/in Racing Insights/by Chris Worrall

Did you know that the Instant Expert tab is by far the most popular tab on the geegeez racecards?

That's because it has the ability to condense the entire form profile of every runner in the race into a single, easily digestible, view. The report covers the form in terms of wins (or places), runs, and win (or place) percentage for each of going, class, course, distance, and field size. It also compares today’s official rating with the horse’s last winning official rating. The display is colour coded: green for a higher percentage rate, amber for a middling percentage, and red for a low percentage. Horses with no form under a certain condition have grey figures.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Where a horse has no UK/Irish form – i.e. it is having its first run in Britain or Ireland under Rules – it will not show up on Instant Expert at all.

This GOLD feature is so important that we make freely available to ALL readers EVERY Thursday alongside our usual selection of FREE races which, for this Thursday are...

2.00 Lingfield
2.10 Newton Abbot
2.25 York
6.15 Newcastle
7.15 Newcastle
7.55 Leopardstown

...from which, we'll head (as we tend to on a Thursday) for the Racing League and Race 32, the 7.15 Newcastle, a 13-runner, Class 3, 3yo+ A/W handicap over a left-handed trip just shy of 1m4½f on standard to slow tapeta...

Lexington Knight won last time out and has won two of his last five, Night breeze has won each of his last three and Tafsir won last time out too for a third win in six outings and an eighth successive top-3 finish.

Corsican Caper has also won three of his last six and most of the field have at least one win in their recent form line, but Who's Glen is a three-race maiden whilst John Chard VC is winless in seven races/two years and now makes an A/W debut. Who's Glen has, however, made the frame in each of his three outings to date.

Plenty of these are moving class today, but only Kamboo drops down a level for his second run in a handicap. Matchless, Lexington Knight, Dark Jedi, John Chard VC and Percy Jones all step up one class; Who's Glen makes a handicap debut and Corsican Caper makes a yard debut as both step up two classes with in-form Tafsir stepping up three levels here, which could be tough.

Top weight True Courage did run at this grade last time out, but after three indifferent efforts is now fitted with blinkers for the first time. Kamboo is the highest-rated runner in the race off a mark of 87 (2lbd higher than True Courage), but as one of two 3yr olds in the race (along with handicap debutant Who's Glen) in the race, benefits from a very handy 9lbs weight allowance today.

Most of this field have had at least one outing in the last four weeks, but Percy Jones, Kamboo and Corsican Caper return from short breaks of 54, 63 and 77 days respectively, whilst Matchless might well need a run after a 21-week layoff since a 51 length defeat over hurdles at Fontwell. In fact, his last six outings have all been over hurdles and hasn't raced on level ground since finishing fourth of seven, beaten by sixteen lengths over 1m4f at Catterick ten months ago.

Matchless is one for four runners here (Kamboo, John Chard VC and Who's Glen being the others) yet to win over a similar trip to this one. Four other runners have also won here at Newcastle in the past with True Courage, La Pulga and Lexington Knight all former course and distance winners, whilst Furzig won here over 1m2f way back in July 2019, but that would even register on the five-year form on Instant Expert, never mind this two-year overview...

...where True Courage is probably the main standout runner. Corsican Caper, Furzig, Night Breeze and Lexington Knight have multiple wins at this trip, but Dark Jedi and La Pulga have really struggled to win, whilst Percy Jones hasn't fared that much better. Tafsir and Furzig are a combined 0 from 14 here at Newcastle over the last two years, whilst Matchless, Furzig and La Pulga are a combined 1 from 27 at Class 3! It's probably safe to assume that I'll not be backing Tafsir, Matchless, Dark Jedi, Furzig, La Pulza or Percy Jones to win here, but half of that group remain in contention for the places so far, now that I've seen this...

They're still not high up in my thoughts, of course, but they are still part of this group I'm now focusing on...

..as we now check whether any might be aided or hindered by the draw. Before I look at the draw stats, I'd say that I'd be surprised in stall position made or broke a horse's chances of winning when there's over a mile and a half to run after the gates open, but I'd better check the stats anyway, because we know that data doesn't lie!

And that data would actually suggest that those drawn highest have fared best of all. from a win perspective, stalls 4, 5, 6 and 10+ have had the best win percentages, but we're not talking huge margins here...

...although it is technically good news for Matchless, True Courage, Night Breeze, Lexington Knight and La Pulga. Sadly, if we thought that the draw data was particularly helpful, the pace stats are even less useful today, I'm afraid, with no real clear pattern...

..and this is reflected in the pace/draw heat map...

So, when this happens, I tend to go back to the racecard and Instant Expert to help guide me.

Summary

It's not an exact science, but if I refer to Instant Expert and the place data and focus upon those with three blocks of green, I'm suddenly only looking at four runners...

...and all four fit the slight draw bias we mentioned earlier.

Matchless might well need a run after a 21-week break from racing and tackling a first non-NH race in ten months might test his fitness. It's also almost sixteen months since he last won on the level and he has yet to make the frame in seven A/W starts, so that's an easy decision to drop him from my list of possibles.

This leaves me with a trio in racecard order of True Courage, Lexington Knight and Night Breeze and I think true Courage is definitely the weaker of the three. I don't however see much between Lexington Knight and Night Breeze, but if pushed to stick my neck out, I'd probably go with Night Breeze who rarely runs a bad race.

A market check at 5.15pm Wednesday showed this...

...and with bookies paying four places, Lexington Knight and True Courage both fall into what I'd class as being "E/W backable"

Wales and The West top Racing League after Windsor treble

15 August 2024/in Horse Racing News/by Geegeez News

Wales & The West ended week four of the Racing League on top of the table after the Jamie Osborne-led team enjoyed a treble at Windsor.

The East, managed by Chris Hughes with the help of assistant Charlie Fellowes, held a narrow advantage heading into the seven-race card, with Wales & The West second and London & The South in third.

The East enjoyed eight winners across the first two meetings at Yarmouth and Wolverhampton, and while their advantage significantly eroded after leaving Chepstow last week without a victory, they struck first at Windsor with the Roger Varian-trained Nazron (5-1) to ensure they remained in pole position.

Jamie Osborne at Wolverhampton (Nigel French/PA)

London & The South, managed by Matt Chapman, enjoyed a one-two in the second race and briefly hit the front in the overall competition – but it is Osborne who has the bragging rights ahead of the penultimate night at Newcastle next week courtesy of a hat-trick of victories.

Of Chapman, Osborne told Sky Sports Racing: “He’s so annoying isn’t he! I think on expectations tonight he would have absolutely been favourite, and while he’s had a one-two, I think he’ll be very disappointed.”

Wales & The West’s first winner of the night was provided by the Ian Williams-trained Night Breeze (13-2), ridden by Kieran O’Neill, while Brian Meehan’s Toca Madera (8-1) made it a double in the hands of Benoit De La Sayette.

Williams and O’Neill completed a double of their own and made it a treble for the team in the concluding race with Parlando (11-2). The Osborne-trained Sean was an unlucky third after encountering a troubled passage.

Osborne added: “I think Sean has run a great trial for the Winter Hill Stakes back here a week on Saturday! It was a great run from him off 108, but fair play to Ian – he thought his horse would leave the Yarmouth run behind him and he was absolutely right.

“It’s great for Wales and great for the team and that’s the most important thing. I would have preferred it if Sean had won, but they’ve both run fantastic races.”

The East’s Nazron impressed in the opener, always travelling well under Daniel Muscutt and picking up smartly once given his head to score by two and a quarter lengths from Spring Is Sprung in second.

Reflecting on the fact The East had been knocked off top spot and now find themselves in third, Chris Hughes said: “It’s been tough today. We came here with 13 decent horses and there’s a few we’ve run tonight that have run under par, but that’s racing and it’s competitive.”

Great Acclaim followed up last week’s victory at Chepstow to lead home the one-two for London & The South – who started this week in third place.

Great Acclaim winning at Windsor (Bradley Collyer/PA)

Carrying a 7lb penalty for his triumph in Monmouthshire seven days ago, Eve Johnson Houghton’s 11-4 favourite knuckled down for jockey Charles Bishop to see off the persistent challenge of team-mate Post Rider by half a length.

The North secured its first winner of this year’s Racing League as the Richard Fahey-trained Life On The Rocks finished best to spring a 28-1 surprise in the the third race of the evening.

The team led by ex-footballer and trainer Mick Quinn drew a blank across the first three weeks of the competition and while this winner gets them on board, they remain fifth of seven in the table.

Quinn said: “I spoke to Richard and the lads beforehand and they said the horse was bucking and kicking at home. Two out I thought ‘aye aye, he’s travelling as well as anything!’.”

Life On The Rocks’ owner, Aidan Ryan, added: “It’s great prize-money, why wouldn’t you support it (Racing League)?

“We thought he’d a real chance tonight and I told a few people to have a small investment. He was a big price.”

Jockey Billy Loughnane (centre) celebrates winning aboard Bennetot for Ireland (Bradley Collyer/PA)

Bennetot struck gold for Ireland under a power-packed ride from Billy Loughnane.

Charlie Johnston’s 33-1 shot Love De Vega looked set to claim top honours for Scotland after manoeuvring his way to the front, but he was unable to resist the late surge of the David O’Meara-trained Bennetot, who got up to score by a length.

The victory was a turnaround in fortunes for O’Meara after his runners failed to make it to Chepstow last week after getting stuck in traffic.

Ireland manager Kevin Blake said: “This is horse racing, the road is long, you have loads of bad days but normally the wheel turns and to have a horse that was one of O’Meara five on that lorry last week come here and win this week is brilliant.

“In fairness they did fancy the horse. I’m very careful what we’re putting Billy on as we’re trying to make him leading rider and the guys gave me loads of encouragement.

“I thought he won well there and it’s put Billy in a great spot as well. I think the team competition has gone for us, so the focus is on Billy now.”

Loughnane ended the night on top of the jockeys’ standings with 217 points, ahead of Saffie Osborne on 210 and Muscutt on 190.

Loughnane said: “The last two weeks have been a little bit tricky and it was great to get a win.”

After a topsy-turvy night, Wales & The West lead the Racing League on 571.5 points, with London & The West close up behind in second on 567 and The East now with work to do on 529 in third.

Saffie Osborne leads ‘home team’ fightback in Racing League

8 August 2024/in Horse Racing News/by Geegeez News

A brilliant night for Wales & The West at Chepstow saw Jamie Osborne’s team move right to the heels of The East in the Racing League.

Just over 100 points adrift of The East at the start of play, the defending champions were in business in race two, courtesy of league specialist Saffie Osborne and the Brian Meehan-trained Von Baer (4-1 favourite).

Osborne senior said: “I think Brian was fairly confident, no matter what the ground – he’s a nice horse.”

The successful jockey added: “I was left in front a long way from home and he got lonely, but he was always pulling out enough. He’s still very lightly raced and there’s more to come.”

Wales & The West again showed taking their crown will not be easy, with Osborne getting Ed Walker’s Fantasy Believer (9-1) home in race six, beating Rathgar and David Probert representing the charging London & The South.

Leading rider in the 2022 and 2023 editions of the Racing League, Osborne said: “He’s such a legend of a horse! Ed’s team have done an amazing job getting him back to the form he’s in.”

The evening was complete for the ‘home team’ when Osborne pounced late on Michael Bell’s Carrytheone (2-1 favourite) to win the finale, the feature Take tote Home With You tote.co.uk Racing League 21 Handicap over seven furlongs, getting the verdict in a three-way photo. There was drama near the line, with Oisin Orr and Maywake crashing to the ground. Thankfully, both horse and jockey were quickly to their feet.

A beaming Osborne told Sky Sports Racing: “Three yards before the line I didn’t think I was going to get up, then on the line I thought ‘I’ve got that!’.”

Also making inroads were the aforementioned London & The South, with Oisin Murphy helping Matt Chapman’s outfit to a treble of their own.

Immediate gains came for them with a one-two in the opener, as Eve Johnson Houghton’s Great Acclaim (10-1) picked up 25 points for first under Charlie Bishop and Andrew Balding’s Lady Flora took another 18 in the hands of former champion Murphy.

Johnson Houghton said: “He’s improving all the time, which is good, and luckily he doesn’t win by too far so the handicapper can’t do too much about it.”

A rare visitor to Chepstow, Murphy did not have to wait much longer to bag a winner of his own, denying Havana Rum (The North) in race three aboard Richard Hannon’s Gisburn (100-30).

And it got even better for Murphy and London & The South when the Balding-trained Lieber Power (9-4 favourite) wore down The East’s Walter Hartright in the mile-and-a-half handicap that was race five on the card.

Murphy said: “Andrew has placed him really well and he enjoyed that. It was a good spot for him.”

There was a notable double for Manila Scouse (7-1), who repeated last year’s victory in the five-furlong handicap here for Tim Easterby and David Allan to give Yorkshire maximum points in race four.

Allan said: “He likes a trip down here! He likes the rain, too, and stays six, so when it rained we knew he had a big chance.”

At the conclusion of what turned into a gloomy evening weather-wise, The East sat on 424 points – just seven and a half points in front of Wales & The West. London & The South kept in touch on 374 points, from Ireland with 328.