Virgin Bet Autumn Festival Friday 2025

1:05 pm

The Virgin Bet Every Saturday Money Back EBF Restricted Novice Stakes

Finally cashing in on her consistent run of form, Mossvale Diva (4/5F) just about lasted home to reward favourite backers in the first race of the day, holding on by half a length for Ben Robinson and Brian Ellison. Sharply away from the inside berth in Stall 1, Mossvale Diva was keen to get on with things in the early stages, setting a good clip out in front ahead of Kody B (33/1) as the runners passed halfway. Rounding the home turn with a slender advantage, Mossvale Diva travelled better than most with a couple of furlongs left to run, nudged along as she entered the straight. Unwilling to surrender the advantage, Mossvale Diva ran on impressively in the final furlong and a half, galloping on strongly all the way to the line to hold off Kody B in second place. A jockey in fine form, Ben Robinson has now ridden more than 20 winners for a ninth season in a row!

Results

Winner
Name: Mossvale Diva (9)
Owner: Nick Bradley Racing 17 and Partner
Prize: £15,000
Trainer: Brian Ellison
Jockey: Ben Robinson

The Race
Distance: 6f 17y
Prize: £15,000
Class: 5

Runners
Runners: 9

1:40 pm

The ESL Export Restricted Novice Stakes

Causing a real upset, Moon Beginnings (12/1) made his first start under rules a winning one when successful in Race 2, keeping on nicely under Hollie Doyle to score by a neck for trainer Dave Loughnane. Sitting in fourth place, Moon Beginnings was ridden patiently throughout by Hollie Doyle, racing around a length behind Token Love (28/1) as Magic Boy (6/4) led them through halfway. Ridden forward passing the three-furlong point, Moon Beginnings made stealthy headway around the outside of Zarathos (5/4F) as the field reached the home turn, Magic Boy still in front but ridden along to maintain his position. Moving upsides Magic Boy at the furlong pole, it didn’t take long for Moon Beginnings to find top gear, and although Zarathos made him fight for it, ultimately had just enough in the tank to see out the victory. 84 winners up for the season, Hollie Doyle also won a Grade 2 aboard former Roodee scorer Witness Stand at Goodwood in July!

Results

Winner
Name: Moon Beginnings
Owner: Mrs S. L. Loughnane
Prize: £18,000
Trainer: David Loughnane
Jockey: Hollie Doyle

The Race
Distance: 7f 1y
Prize: £18,000
Class: 4

Runners
Runners: 7

2:10 pm

The Xenon Workplace Handicap Stakes

An impressive winner at Haydock a week prior, Gentle Warrior (6/5F) repeated the trick in fine style to take the third race of the day, scoring by a cool 4 ½ lengths for Pierre-Louis Jamin and Karl Burke. Towards the back of a well bunched field, Gentle Warrior kept out of harm’s way for the most part, the field led through the opening mile by pacesetter Navid (4/1). Nudged along for more around half a mile from home, Gentle Warrior briefly looked to have quite a lot to do as Scarlet Moon (11/2) took the lead around the home turn. However, weaving his way through the pack, Gentle Warrior travelled all over his rivals upon entering the straight and after finding a gap at the furlong pole, merely had to be nudged out to secure the win. Successful when teaming up in the past, Burke and Jamin also won a Listed race with Victoria Harbour in May!

Results

Winner
Name: Gentle Warrior (7)
Owner: Hambleton Racing Ltd XXXV & E Burke
Prize: £18,000
Trainer: K. R. Burke
Jockey: Pierre-Louis Jamin

The Race
Distance: 1m 6f 87y
Prize: £18,000
Class: 4

Runners
Runners: 6
Non-Runners: 1

2:45 pm

The Virgin Bet Supports Safe Gambling Handicap Stakes

A horse in a rich vein of form, Mayday Malone (5/4F) recorded his second course victory in ready fashion when taking Race 4, ridden clear by Jay Mackay to score by 4 ¼ lengths for trainer Michael Bell. Straight into the lead out of the starting stalls, Mayday Malone once again adopted his usual front-running tactics through the opening half mile, holding a slender lead over Documenting (10/1) as Zero Carbon (33/1) took a wide route in third. Raising the tempo passing the two-furlong pole, Mayday Malone travelled best of all as he led the field into the home straight, his challengers one-by-one coming under strong pressure. Swinging away on the bridle passing the cutaway, Mayday Malone was soon home and hosed in the closing stages, kicking well clear of Benacre (7/1) towards the line to provide trainer Michael Bell with his 42^nd winner of the season!

Results

Winner
Name: Mayday Malone (4)
Owner: Mr Jim Biggane and Partner
Prize: £20,0000
Trainer: Michael Bell
Jockey: Jack Mackay

The Race
Distance: 7f 1y
Prize: £20,0000
Class: 4

Runners
Runners: 10
Non-Runners: 4

3:17 pm

The Deepbridge Capital Fillies' Handicap Stakes

Another to score on the Roodee for the second time this season, Vixey (7/4F) just about did enough to edge home by a neck in the fifth race, delivered to perfection by Aiden Brookes for the Simon West yard. Racing in midfield, Vixey occupied the far rail for much of the contest, sitting in the slipstream of Lady Wingalong (10/1) as Musical Angel (11/1) set the pace. Biding his time before nudging his mount into contention, Aiden Brookes played his cards right around the home turn, finding a perfect gap up the rail to sneak through into second place. Now in the clear and getting closer with every stride, Vixey really picked up in the closing stages, gradually getting on top of Musical Angel with around 100 yards to go and going on to win a shade cosily. Now up to six winners for the year, Simon West is currently operating at a whopping 17% strike-rate!

Results

Winner
Name: Vixey (2)
Owner: Mr Allan Davies
Prize: £15,000
Trainer: Simon West
Jockey: Aiden Brookes

The Race
Distance: 7f 1y
Prize: £15,000
Class: 5

Runners
Runners: 7
Non-Runners: 1

3:50 pm

The Matthew Clark Handicap Stakes

Second here on his only previous visit, Marbuzet (9/2) went one place better when sneaking home to land the sixth race by a neck, running on strongly in the final furlong to score for Sean Kirrane and Tim Easterby. Hugging the inside rail for the majority of the opening circuit, Marbuzet remained tucked away in midfield until entering the final half mile, edging off the rail as No More Bolero (28/1) challenged Chillhi (4/1F) for the lead. Pushed along but sneaking into contention, Marbuzet made his way into fourth place around the home turn, gaining on Merrijig (8/1) with every stride as No More Bolero tried to kick clear. Ridden along more firmly and drifting under pressure, Marbuzet did it the hard way up the straight, and despite bumping into No More Bolero 100 yards out, the six-year-old had more than enough in the tank to secure the win towards the line. Enjoying another top season, Tim Easterby is now 107 winners up for the calendar year!

Results

Winner
Name: Marbuzet (6)
Owner: Mr Patrick Milmo & Partner
Prize: £15,000
Trainer: Tim Easterby
Jockey: Sean Kirrane

The Race
Distance: 1m 7f 196y
Prize: £15,000
Class: 5

Runners
Runners: 12
Non-Runners: 2

4:20 pm

The Livescorebet Handicap Stakes

Needing every inch of the six-furlong trip, Dapper Valley (5/6F) just held on to take the penultimate race of the day, poking his nose in front at the line to score by a short head for Ashley Lewis and James Owen. Keen from the outset, Dapper Valley proved to be a bit of a handful for his young jockey throughout the seventh race, sneaking through into second place before the two-furlong pole. Making a move between Emperor’s Son (15/2) and Danzart (50/1) around the home turn, Dapper Valley was soon sent to the front a furlong from home, and despite a strong rally from Grenham Bay (22/1) in the final 50 yards, the leader had just enough in reserve to get the job done. A trainer on the rise, James Owen also took a Group 3 in America recently with Wimbledon Hawkeye!

Results

Winner
Name: Dapper Valley (1)
Owner: Deva Racing JH
Prize: £15,000
Trainer: James Owen
Jockey: Ashley Lewis

The Race
Distance: 6f 17y
Prize: £15,000
Class: 5

Runners
Runners: 11

4:55 pm

The Livescorebet Handicap Stakes

Making all under a well-judged ride, Balon d’Or (13/2) added a second course victory to his name in the finale, ridden out by Andrew Mullen to score by 2 ¼ lengths for trainer Hugo Palmer. Pushed along out of the gates, Balon d’Or wasted no time in hitting the front through the opening quarter mile, grabbing the rail and holding a narrow lead over Giant (3/1F) through the halfway stage. Led around the home turn by the loose B Associates (7/1), Balon d’Or looked to have plenty in the tank with two furlongs left to run, still chased closest of all by Giant entering the straight. With no real danger coming from behind, Balon d’Or galloped on strongly in the final furlong and a half, ridden out to make sure but ultimately proving too much for his rivals to handle. Enjoying another good season, Hugo Palmer now has 56 winners for 2026, operating at a 15% strike-rate!

Results

Winner
Name: Balon D'Or (5)
Owner: Ms Diamon, Owen, Roberton, Cooke-Hay
Prize: £15,000
Trainer: Hugo Palmer
Jockey: Andrew Mullen

The Race
Distance: 6f 17y
Prize: £15,000
Class: 5

Runners
Runners: 10
Non-Runners: 1