Sky Bet Sunday Series: Izzari could be Bonus material

The opening winner of this year’s Sky Bet Sunday Series could be noteworthy in more ways than one, believes Racing TV pundit Martin Dwyer, as the first of six fixtures in the 2025 programme commenced this weekend at Musselburgh.

Izzari triumphed at 16/1 under rider Mohammed Tabiti and for trainer Iain Jardine from the back of the field to pip more prominently-ridden rivals to a first win on turf and Dwyer believes there is more to come. 

“It's early days, but you're looking for a horse that can win another two races and he's lightly-raced with only eight runs and he can't go up much for that,” said Dwyer on the 1¼-length verdict.

“He's won that off 66 and he’s got stamina in his pedigree, so you wouldn’t be surprised if Iain Jardine steps him up through this series and brings about a little bit of improvement, like Letsbefrank last year.” 

The two-year-old race looked a good contest on paper and 10/1 chance Dickensian proved too good on debut by making all in the colours of Sheikh Mohammed Obaid for trainer Kevin Ryan and Shane Gray, the first leg of a double on the evening for the rider. 

By Pinatubo out of a Group Three winner, Dickensian is bred to be good but Clear Force proved all the rage at 10/11F for the Karl Burke yard. 

The winner ducked right at the start yet still won and Amy Ryan, reporting track-side for Racing TV and daughter of the trainer, said the result was not a big surprise. 

“There was plenty of chat for several of these beforehand and a lot of nice pedigrees, but he’s always shown a lot of speed at home and he's had them cooked from half way,” said Ryan. 

“The time was only marginally slower than Only Spoofing later on in the 5f handicap for the older horses and it reads as a very good performance.”

Michael Shinners of sponsors Sky Bet added: "The Sunday Series is for a certain level of horse but it throws up some good horses who go on to bigger and better things and I think this race could be responsible for one or two of them."

The £50,000 highlight went to the Richard Fahey team as Our Havana finished with purpose to land the Sky Bet For The Fans Handicap under Billy Garritty.

One of the best backed horses on the card, the four-year-old has enjoyed a good winter and spring and maintained that momentum here by landing a good payday, sitting just off the pace and travelling strongly before delivering in the final furlong to continue the good run for the yard. 

Shane Gray followed up his win on Dickensian with Only Spoofing in the Sky Bet Acca Freeze Handicap  - a fourth win at the track for the 11-year-old - to strike with his only two rides on the card. 

Yet Jason Hart leads the way at this early stage after getting into the first four on four of his five rides, with course specialist Gweedore getting closest with a runner-up spot in the finale.

The Sky Bet Sunday Series heads south next with the Rowley Mile at Newmarket hosting the second fixture on May 18, with subsequent fixtures at Chelmsford City, Hamilton Park and Haydock Park before concluding at York on September 8.