Team Wales & The West will be hoping they can regain their Racing League crown as the competition reaches a thrilling finale at Southwell on Thursday evening.
The 2022 champions lead London & The South by just 41.5 points and The East by 63.5 points, while the £20,000 leading jockey award also looks too close to call, with Saffie Osborne, Daniel Muscutt and Billy Loughnane separated by only 23 points.
Wales & The West has once again filled its full allocation at Southwell, meaning the 2022 champions are on course to saddle 83 out of a possible 84 runners throughout the competition.
"I think we have enough chances through the card, although all the races look very competitive. It is everything you expect Racing League to be and looks hard to find a winner," said Team manager Jamie Osborne.
"We pride ourselves on being able to get two runners in each race. It is a shame we had a very unfortunate non-runner at Windsor, otherwise we would have had the full 84. I think with our squad of trainers, we don't necessarily have the quality of other teams, but we have all bought into it and there is a great team determination. We plan entries well in advance to make sure there are no weak spots, so come declarations we are not scraping around for runners.
"This week I think we look strong in four or five races, although I don't think we have any weak spots either. The first couple of races could be pivotal for us. We have a little bit of a buffer zone and still have a joker to play – as do London & The South. I think The East is fielding a very strong team, but they might just have too much of a deficit to make up.
On the leading jockey prize, he added: "The leading jockey prize looks wide open and could go one of three ways between Saffie, Danny and Billy. Financially, it is a big deal, and I would imagine all three of them believe they can win it. I would say the chances of me sharing Saffie's cash prize if she wins are slim to nil!"
London & The South had the title snatched away by Wales & The West in 2022 and Matt Chapman's side will be aiming to exact revenge this evening.
Chapman said: "We have been placed in every Racing League so far and it will be a great achievement if we can get in the top three again. I cannot thank enough the small number of trainers that have supported us during the competition.
"There was a lot of last-minute shuffling of the pack this week and everyone was amazing in switching horses and jockeys. I am sure some of them are very upset with me – but that is the nature of the beast.
"Oisin Murphy has a full book of rides and looks to have some nice chances, while it would be a great story if Great Acclaim can bring up a hat-trick in this year's competition for Eve Johnson Houghton and Charlie Bishop."
The East, who enjoyed a flying start to the competition including a magnificent five-timer at Wolverhampton, have struggled in recent weeks, but the assistant manager and Newmarket-based handler Charlie Fellowes is expecting a big performance from his squad at Southwell.
"Newcastle was a bit of a disaster for us as we thought we had a really strong team going there. We did OK in the end with Heathcliff pulling us out of a hole, but it was not as good as we hoped," explained Fellowes.
"Sir Michael Stoute's horse Fox Legacy, who was odds-on, being withdrawn at the start really hammered us. If he had won, the extra 25 points would have left us right in the mix. We are not out of it, but it has made this week a lot harder."
On his leading chances this evening, Fellowes added: "I think we have another really solid team for Southwell, some of whom have proper chances. We look very strong in the two-mile race with Sir Mark Prescott's horse Warmonger and Manxman for Simon & Ed Crisford.
"My horse Kodi Lion looks to have a huge chance in the seven-furlong handicap. He ran a cracker to be third in the big race at Newcastle last week and runs here off 1lb lower in a considerably weaker race.
"The other horse I'd mention is Nazron in the five-furlong sprint, who is already a Racing League winner this season. I think those are our three standout races and then we have good depth behind that."
Racing League standings after night five
Wales & The West – 689.5pts
London & The South – 648pts
The East – 626pts
Ireland – 579pts
The North – 391pts
Scotland – 347.5pts
Yorkshire – 327pts
