V86, V85 and other harness-racing bets

On Wednesday 11 November, V86 runs at Åby and Solvalla, and on Saturday 14 November V85 is expected at Eskilstuna with 50 million kronor in the jackpot; both are betting formats where you predict the winners of eight harness races (races where horses pull sulkies). Trav365's tips point to 5 Aberama Gold (V86-1) and Timo Nurmos 4 Chamberi (V85-2), while Mats E Djuse won the season's final race in Rättvik. At the same time, Svensk Travsport is introducing a new competition system with levels A, B and C.

V86 at Åby and Solvalla on 11 November

The V86 round takes place at the racetracks Åby and Solvalla on Wednesday 11 November, with betting closing at 20.30. A racetrack is a track for harness racing, and betting closing time is the last time to place your bet. Trav365 has published V86 interviews with the trainers, as well as the experts' ranking and race-by-race tips.

In Trav365's Tidiga V86-tanke with Mario Lipovac, 5 Aberama Gold (V86-1) is left alone as the nap pick on the betting slip. A nap pick is a horse tipped to win a race on its own. Lipovac describes how Aberama Gold achieved a long-awaited victory most recently and that this time he believes the horse will work its way to the lead, in other words the front. Trav365 and Trav365

V85 at Eskilstuna with 50 million in the jackpot

V85 will be run at Eskilstuna on Saturday 14 November, with betting closing at 15.00. Breeders’ Crown finals for three- and four-year-old horses will be decided there, and 50 million kronor is in the jackpot, according to Trav365. A jackpot is an accumulated prize pool.

In Trav365’s Early V85 thoughts with Mario Lipovac, the first pick is Timo Nurmos’ 4 Chamberi (V85-2). Lipovac writes that she impressed in the semifinal and that he believes she is simply the best. Trav365

Result: Djuse and Lönn won

Mats E Djuse ended the harness racing year in Rättvik in style. He is the year's champion and won the season's final race after a stylish drive behind Guli Black, according to Sulkysport. A driver is the person who drives the horse in the race.

In Gävle's apprentice final, Linus Lönn was best behind Fabulous Boys. An apprentice final is a final for apprentice drivers. After the victory, Lönn said they kept a steady course and that the horse repaid them by going extremely well down the home straight. Sulkysport and Sulkysport

Maharajah, Readly Express and Kihlström’s purchases

Maharajah was the most successful of the stallions last week, and 3 of his 2023s (horses born in 2023) recorded their first career victory. A stallion is a male horse used for breeding. Readly Express won 12 races last week and took the lead in terms of winnings in Swedish kronor; the gap is now 12 wins down to Maharajah. Sulkysport and Sulkysport

Philippe Allaire owns the Swedish-bred 2-year-old Albert, who made a strong impression with his debut victory in Gävle yesterday. Örjan Kihlström bid on and won a live foal fee for Francesco Zet for SEK 65,000 at the Must auction at Bergsåker, 90 seconds before V85-6. Sulkysport and Trav365

New competition system with A, B and C levels

Svensk Travsport is launching a new level division next year to create more even and exciting races with larger fields. Levels A, B and C will be introduced, and according to Svensk Travsport, level races will account for roughly one-third of all races run. This is an increase from today, when just over one-quarter of races are protected by some form of restriction on starting points. Starting points are points that determine which races a horse may start in.

The system will be tested to ensure that horses to a somewhat greater extent are matched against equally matched opponents and to guarantee that Swedish harness races remain interesting and exciting for bettors. The prize money is lower in protected races, while the elite will be able to compete for high prize money against the very best. Trav365 and Sulkysport

In brief

• The world's most famous donkey, Gozo, has arrived in Sweden after the racehorse trainer and driver Sophia Olsson Jacobsen bought him in Malta. Trav365
• Tristan Sjöberg scored a double in the USA with Opus One and Memento Mori. Sulkysport
• Travelling icon Anders ”Linkan” Lindqvist and his partner are going separate ways. Trav365