'This is about downing Matt Chapman' - Osborne relishing Racing League finale

The second edition of the Racing League comes to a close with a seven-race card at Newcastle on Thursday evening, with the prize and ultimate bragging rights still up for grabs.

Last week's Southwell fixture was cut short after just two races following the death of the Queen, meaning the teams were denied the opportunity to add to their tallies in the five abandoned races.

Matt Chapman's London and the South team hold sway at the top of the leaderboard with a 36-point advantage over Wales and the West, which is captained by Jamie Osborne.

The East, led by Rupert Bell, are a further 61 points adrift, while the Irish team headed by Kevin Blake is bringing up the rear on 231.

The Racing League will be decided at Newcastle on ThursdayCredit: John Grossick

Osborne believes the playing of joker cards – which allow a team to double the points won by their two horses in a given race – will decide the winner of this year's competition.

Wales and the West look to hold a strong chance in the 1m4½f opener (5.45) with Postmark and Sarsons Risk sharing favouritism and while keen to keep his cards close to his chest, Osborne believes his squad could have the edge.

He said: "Our team is strong and on balance probably marginally stronger than Matt's, but we're going to need a bit of luck. He has a joker left and so do we, so the fate of the series could come down to where they're played.

"I have a fair idea of where I'm going to play ours but I need to speak to my trainers and be sure we're playing it in the right race."

Osborne's daughter Saffie could play a key role in the championship were she to be successful aboard leading fancy Tregony in the 1m2f handicap (6.15), while Galiac (6.45), Out From Under (7.15) and Magical Merlin (7.45) also hold sound claims.

The trainer will be hoping his ten-year-old stable stalwart Raising Sand can outrun his odds in the mile handicap (6.45) after picking up a single point for his tenth-placed finish over this course and distance last month.

He said Chapman has become "increasingly more annoying" throughout the competition and believes his role in his team's success has been exaggerated.

Matt Chapman: has become 'increasing annoying' according to Jamie OsborneCredit: Edward Whitaker

"It would give me so much pleasure to wipe the smile off his face," he said. "He's been particularly smug through the whole process and he does mistakenly feel the current success of his team is down to his management, when we really all know that Richard Hannon and Andrew Balding have run the thing."

Wales and the West won the opening race at Southwell last week with the Ian Williams-trained Sophosc, helping nudge them 25 points closer to Chapman's team. London and the South struggled to make an impact, with a fourth-placed effort the best they could do in the two races.

Osborne believes the effervescent Chapman has tried to resort to dirty tactics in his bid to win, but it hasn't fooled the runners of the competition.

"He's tried every trick in the book," he said. "He tried to get the first two races struck off because he didn't score well in them. He's gone for a few minor rule tweaks along the way to suit himself but the Racing League has stood firm and hasn't allowed itself to be bullied by him."

The trainer joked Chapman would not be winning any popularity contests between the team leaders and is looking forward to the showdown under the floodlights at Gosforth Park.

He said: "We have a captains WhatsApp group and he's not made any friends on there. This is not just about the pride of the Welsh, this is about downing Matt Chapman."

Racing League standings after week five

Racing League leading jockey standings after week five

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