Apr 02, 2026

Freebets.com’s Horse racing team’s Selections for Newton Abbot

Things are hotting up in Horse Racing as the calendar moves towards the Grand National and freebets.com is the home of the best betting sites.

Previewing the meeting at Newton Abbot on Saturday April 4th are the Horse Racing experts of Freebets.com, the best place for sign up offers and free bets.

The first of three selections comes in the National Hunt Maiden Hurdle at 2:00 where Crest Of Stars (7/1) looks an interesting each-way proposition on his debut over timber. The Anthony Honeyball-trained five-year-old showed plenty of ability in point-to-points and bumpers and this opening-day meeting at Newton Abbot on Good ground should be ideal for a horse of his type. With Sam Twiston-Davies in the saddle — a profitable combination at this track — he can surprise a few on his first start over hurdles.

In the Mares’ Handicap Hurdle at 3:10, Northern Air (5/2) holds strong claims as the top-rated mare in the field on a mark of 100. The 2m1f trip around Newton Abbot’s tight, left-handed circuit suits a handy mare who races prominently, and the Good ground should play to her strengths. Trainer form at this track is key on opening day and with only seven runners declared, the field is small enough for her class to shine through.

The feature race of the day, the Class 3 Happy 45th Birthday Andy Hurtley Handicap Chase at 3:49, sees Scarface (4/1) take top billing as the highest-rated runner in the field off a mark of 132. This competitive 2m5f chase over the testing Devon course suits a bold-jumping front runner, and with the ground riding Good, Good to Soft in places — ideal conditions — the £10,562 prize on offer should attract a strong performance from what is comfortably the best horse in the race on ratings. A bold show is anticipated.

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