Apr 17, 2022

Easter Saturday Racing Review - 16 April 2022

A sell-out crowd basked in the sunshine at Newton Abbot on Saturday and, as well as some well-backed winners, there was an 80/1 success for those racegoers lucky enough to have picked it out.

Favourite backers got off to a good start as Knappers Hill, who eased from 1/3 to 4/9, duly took the opening Racing Partnership Novices’ Hurdle over two miles and one furlong. The main opposition came from Diligent, a course winner over fences and hurdles, who shortened from 7/2 to 5/2 but, having led until the home turn, he quickly gave way to Knappers Hill, who went clear between the final two flights in the hands of Harry Cobden.

Winning trainer Paul Nicholls confirmed that the easy winner, who had lost a shoe in his last race at Sandown Park, will return there next Saturday for a race at the season finale.

Seddon, running over fences for the first time since November 2020, was solid in the betting for the feature Class 3 Everybody Smile It’s Pete’s 70th Birthday Handicap Chase over two miles and five furlongs, being returned the 5/4 favourite, although there was late money for Rock On Rocco, who was winning for the third time over fences when beating Flashing Glance in a match at Uttoxeter last time.

Top weight Shoal Bay took the field along tracked by Seddon who jumped to the front at the fourth-last fence. He soon had Rock On Rocco for company, however, and the two were locked in combat over the last three fences with Rock On Rocco gaining a narrow lead at the final jump. Seddon, who had finished runner-up to Big Bad Bear over hurdles at Newcastle on his last run, showed the better finishing speed, however, getting back up right on the line to win by a head.

Morfee became the third winning favourite in a row when making all the running to land the longest race of the afternoon, the Newtonabbotrace On Twitter Handicap Hurdle over an extended three and a quarter miles. The veteran Dell’ Arca went past Presenting Yeats between the last two flights to claim second place, but neither could land a blow on Morfee who comfortably added to his Plumpton win last month.

Despite not having won in 19 races, Scrumpy Boy attracted the money in the Our Green Corner Los Gigantes Novices’ Handicap Chase, shortening from 7/1 to 4/1, before easing to 9/2 at the off. Having his fifth start for trainer Keiran Burke, Scrumpy Boy landed the gamble in some style, going clear from the fourth-last fence and opening up a 26 length lead over top-weight Askinvillar, who was just jumping the final fence when the winner was nearing the line.

All bar four of the runners in the Fudge Bassett Memorial “National Hunt” Maiden Hurdle could be backed at double figures and it was one of the outsiders in the shape of 80/1 shot Holerday Ridge who triumphed in a race full of incident.

All was going well until the penultimate flight where San Giovanni ducked to his left and ran out and Extraordinary Man unseated Brendan Powell, leaving 11/10 favourite Light Em Up Nigel in front. He, in turn, was hampered by the riderless San Giovanni approaching the final flight opening up the way for Holerday Ridge to score for jockey William Kennedy and Stoke Rivers trainer Claire Hitch.

Taunton winner Cobra Commander led at the second-last fence and had too much in hand for 15/8 favourite Motown Lake in the Get Well Soon Big Jim Handicap Chase over three and a quarter miles before Mind Hunter, one of two runners for Welsh trainer Bernard Llewellyn, took the first division of the Good Luck Stuart And Thank You Handicap Hurdle at 16/1, beating the hat-trick seeking Lady Reset.

Racing returns to Newton Abbot Racecourse on Wednesday 4 May for the first of three fixtures next month – book tickets online today.