'I'm expecting big things from Scampi and hopeful of a really good run'

Thursday: Doncaster
Racing League 2022 night one | ITV4/SKY

ITV Racing presenter and London and the South's team manager Matt Chapman is heading into the opening night of the 2022 Racing League with supreme confidence and has one aim throughout this year's series – to beat Team Ireland and Kevin Blake.

Chapman, who will present the coverage on ITV4 at Doncaster when the Racing League is shown on terrestrial television for the first time, has not been afraid to dish out the trash talk and believes his team are in the perfect position to pick up valuable early points.

"It really couldn't have gone more smoothly," he said. "Every single one of my trainers has been extremely helpful, they've been willing to run horses or not without batting an eyelid. When it came to deciding which jockeys ride, they've all been perfectly behaved. It's been one of the easiest jobs I've ever had.

"I put the time in and the problem is some of the other captains thought they could swan in at declaration time and sort it out. You have to show some expertise and some have been lacking, I'm afraid.

"I'm so confident I'll beat Kevin Blake and his Ireland team that I don't even see it as a challenge. He gives it all the talk but he rarely delivers.

"I would like to beat Jamie Osborne [manager of Wales and the West team] too. I'm actually responsible for his best moment in the sport as I booked Daryll Holland to ride Milk It Mick in the Dewhurst in 2003. I won't be helping him out with the Racing League, however."

London and the South's jockey squad has taken a hit with injuries to Laura Pearson and Eoin Walsh, while Daniel Muscutt is suspended for the evening, but Chapman has called on Marco Ghiani, Nicola Currie and trusted ally Sean Levey on the card.

He added: "Everyone knows I think Sean's a terrific rider. Most importantly, he's great fun and has great banter and is basically crackers; I like those people. But the one difficulty has been with the jockeys as it has slightly been struck down.

"I'm hoping for a really good run from Scampi in the 8.10. He was a winner last time and I'm expecting big things from him. In the last race at 8.40, I could have the first two in the market in Good Birthday and Pledge Of Honour. Those last two races are my moment to shine."

Kevin Blake (left): leads the Racing League's Irish teamCredit: Caroline Norris

Team Ireland's manager Blake, another regular face on ITV, is wary of Chapman's bullishness, but has been impressed with the squad he has assembled for the opening fixture given its proximity to the Galway festival.

"My feeling from the beginning was that this would be the trickiest night for us and I thought I would be short on Irish entries this week, but the two Jessica Harrington-trained runners That's Just Dandy [5.40] and Princess Rajj [6.10] look to have strong chances," he said.

"I think we are in decent shape to pick up a result or two, but I suspect the other team managers are thinking that – Matt Chapman thinks he is going to go through the card!"

'Up the North!' - Mick Quinn hoping to score early on

The North's gaffer Mick Quinn is confident his team will be able to hit the back of the net with a few winners towards the end of the card.

Quinn, who enjoyed an illustrious football career in the 1980s and 1990s, believes their best chances of success could come in the final four races, notably with Juan Les Pins in the 6f handicap (7.10) and Night On Earth (7.40) in the 5f handicap under star player Paul Hanagan.

"It's not necessarily football managing-wise, but I definitely want to manage the winning team," he said.

"We're stronger in some of the later races, in the last four especially. We should pick up some points in them and if we pick up any extra points earlier on it'll be a bonus.

Mick Quinn: ex-footballer hoping to get his tactics right

"There are few better to rely on than two-time champion jockey Paul, Patsy [Pat Cosgrave], young Ben Robinson and Harrison Shaw. I'm really pleased to get them and it's all positive for me.

"I'm hoping when we go to Newcastle, the Geordies will get behind us. We're in black and white colours as well and hopefully we can come to the fore then. Up the North!"

Home comforts

Team Yorkshire are hoping to make it an opening night to remember on their home turf in Town Moor.

"I'm glad declarations are over as it was a little stressful organising everything," manager Leonna Mayor said. "It is a different ballgame as trainers are used to declaring at the last minute whereas now everything has to go through me. I have tried to make sure that everyone is happy."

Leonna Mayor: presenter is banking on hard work paying offCredit: Lee Mottershead

Quest For Fun in the 6f handicap (7.10), Emaraty Hero in the 1m4f handicap (8.10) and Jean Baptiste in the 1m2f handicap (8.40) are leading candidates to score for the white rose county in front of what could be a partisan crowd.

"They would be our three main hopes and I will be distraught if we don’t have a winner," the presenter added. "I think we are the hardest-working team and hard work pays off."

Bell back for more

Broadcaster Rupert Bell lifted the inaugural Racing League with the talkSPORT outfit last term, but is not getting complacent prior to this year's edition in which he will oversee the East team.

Bell, who will once again have last year's leading jockey Jack Mitchell as part of his team but not on Thursday evening, believes Newmarket trainers George Boughey, Marco Botti and Charlie Fellowes could hold the key to success.

"When you are the defending champion, you are always a marked man," he said. "I would like to remind them not to get too cocky too soon. Hopefully we can get some good points on the board.

"George Boughey is very happy with X J Rascal ahead of the nursery [6.40]. He ran a cracker at Goodwood last week, when he was only beaten a head, and he runs here off the same mark.

"Marco Botti has three nice chances, including Nao Da Mais [8.10], who was a winner last time out at Kempton, while Charlie Fellowes is sweet on the prospects of Fresh Hope in the 7f handicap [6.10]."

Best of the rest – who are the leading hopes for the two remaining teams?

The two other teams making up this year's Racing League are Scotland, and Wales and the West, and the latter will be keen to make an immediate impact in the curtain-raising mile handicap (5.40).

Managed by Jamie Osborne, they are represented by leading chances Galiac and course-and-distance winner Barley, who will be ridden by the trainer's daughter Saffie.

Team Scotland, who are managed by Linda Perratt, appear to have fewer leading hopes across the card than their opposition, with their best hope likely to come in the 7f handicap (6.40) via the Hugo Palmer-trained Machito.

However, they have their maximum allocation of two runners per race in all bar one of the contests, with Perratt, Alan King, Heather Main, Nigel Tinkler, Jim Goldie and Keith Dalgleish the other trainers representing the team on the card.

Read more . . .

Racing League 2022: TV details, team line-ups, fixture dates, tickets and more

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