May 15, 2018

Newton Abbot Race Preview - Wednesday 16 May 2018

Mental health and wellbeing takes centre stage at Newton Abbot today when the course holds its first racing fixture in partnership with Plymouth & District Mind and Racing Welfare.

Falling during Mental Health Awareness week, which the British Horseracing Authority is supporting on behalf of the racing industry, the meeting aims to improve understanding of mental health issues and available support.

“Unfortunately, there still continues to be a great deal of stigma associated with mental health issues“ said managing director Patrick Masterson.

“Working with Plymouth & District Mind and Racing Welfare, we hope to be able to make a difference and help it to be more acceptable for people to open up and talk about mental health.”

Somerset trainer Paul Nicholls, who has notched 48 successes at the course over the last five seasons, has yet to score this campaign, having sent out seven fancied runners at the first two meetings, none of which got their heads in front.

He has four runners today, starting with two in the opening Newton Abbot Racecourse Supports Mental Health Week Novices’ Hurdle, which is due off at 2.00pm. Earth Leader, the mount of stable jockey Harry Cobden, was beaten a long way on his debut at Wincanton back in November, whilst Bubble O’Clock also finished well down the field on his first run at Chepstow, but may show improvement after a wind operation.

King Calvin stayed on well to beat the Nicholls-trained Secret Investor at Wincanton and the runner-up has franked the form with wins at Stratford and Kempton Park. He was put in his place by another Nicholls runner in Master Tommytucker at Exeter, but will see out the trip and, even giving weight to all his rivals, King Calvin must be in with a chance this afternoon.

Whatever happens to King Calvin, his trainer Jack Barber has another good chance with Posh Totty in the following Racing Welfare Supports Mental Health Awareness Week Novices’ Handicap Chase. A winner at Warwick over three miles, Posh Totty, who will again be ridden by Bryony Frost, should see out the extra two furlongs here, although the handicapper has done her no favours with an 11lb hike in the weight for that win.

Feature race on the card is the Class 3 Wellbeing Show Here On Saturday 2 June Handicap Hurdle over two and a quarter miles and, whilst his recent form doesn’t give him an obvious chance, Royal Irish Hussar is taken to bounce back and land the prize.

His last win came as a juvenile at Cheltenham way back in November 2013. He was rated at 147 when running third to Fox Norton on his next start, but the winless streak since has seen his rating plummet and he ran by far his best race for some time when runner-up to Black Mischief from a mark of 120 last month.

He has gone up by 3lbs for that run, but champion conditional jockey James Bowen will reduce that with his claim and Royal Irish Hussar could have most to fear from the improving Oskar Denarius, who is on a hat-trick.

There is a small, but competitive field for the Racing Partnership TRP Handicap Chase over two miles and five furlongs, including course winners Calin Du Brizais and Moorlands Jack. At the top of the handicap, Bestwork has taken a hefty rise in the weights for his wide-margin Kempton Park win last time, but might still be improving and will love the faster ground.

Trainer Dan Skelton, who had already notched up 15 winners for the season going into yesterday’s racing, went close to a winner at the last meeting when Shrubland was beaten half a length and he could be on the mark this time with lowly-weighted Does It In Style in the South West Racing Club Handicap Hurdle.

Although racing along the banks of the River Dart in Totnes ceased at the start of the Second World War, the course is remembered each year through the Totnes And Bridgetown Steeplechase Company Open Hunters’ Chase, run over three and a quarter miles.

Racing had started in the mid 1780’s near Kingsbridge, transferring to Broadmarsh in Totnes in 1791.The meeting planned for September 1939 never took place and the course was sold off ten years later. For enthusiasts wanting to know more, the history of racing spanning 225 years was chronicled by Peter Wakeham, whose book carries a forward by Dick Francis.

Nicholls runs Vivaldi Collonges from his four entries in today’s renewal but, after the defeat of stable companion Virak at odds of 2-5 in a similar race at the opening meeting of the season, punters will be wary of taking a short price this time. The winner that day was Strumble Head, who made all the running on ground softer than he prefers, and he could notch up another course win.

With little form to go on, debutant Top Of The Charts, whose stable does well in this type of event, may be worth taking a chance on in the concluding Attheraces Sky 415 Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race.