Apr 23, 2019

Newton Abbot Race Report Saturday 20 April 2019

Sean Bowen, who is enjoying his best season in the saddle, made it 88 winners for the campaign when Lord Bryan, trained by his father Peter, landed Newton Abbot’s feature Class 3 newtonabbotracing.com Handicap Chase in front of a big crowd on Saturday.

All three of Lord Bryan’s wins had come on ground with cut in it and he had finished seventh behind Achille on soft ground at Ffos Las last time out. The faster conditions here didn’t deter his followers, however, as he went off the 11-8 favourite and, after being headed by Cut The Corner at the 11th fence, fought back to lead again on the turn for home and see off the challenge of top-weight Deauville Dancer.

Dan Skelton, formerly assistant to multiple champion trainer Paul Nicholls, has set the pace in number of winners trained from the very first day of the season at Uttoxeter last May when he landed a four-timer. He came into the meeting on 194 winners, as he looks to land a double-century, a feat last achieved by the legendary Martin Pipe 17 years ago.

He saddled hot favourite Monsieur D’Arque, who had got off the mark at the third attempt at Ludlow in February, in the opening Emily Egglestone’s 21st Birthday Novices’ Hurdle (Novices’ Championship Hurdle Series Qualifier) over two and a quarter miles, but he was to prove the first of a number of disappointments on the afternoon.

It was River Bray, a winner at Wincanton, but well beaten behind Good Boy Bobby at Southwell last month, who made the running and none of his rivals ever got near him with Ciaran Gethings looking for dangers from two flights out, as the favourite tamely dropped out of contention.

Skelton ran Set List in the following Racing Partnership Handicap Hurdle over a trip of nearly three and a half miles as he returned to the smaller obstacles after a disappointing run at Stratford last time where his jumping was far from fluent.

Dulverton trainer Jeremy Scott is in good form with five winners from just 13 runners under both codes in the previous two weeks and he saddled two, with Ballybough Nora sent off the 2-1 favourite. Set List hit the front on the turn for home, but was headed by Ballybough Nora before the final flight who ran on well under Matt Griffiths to score by two lengths.

Another trainer in good form is Christian Williams, who had notched up 25 wins from just 39 horses coming into the meeting and he added to his tally when Primal Focus made all the running with Nick Scholfield to take the In Memory Of John Dingley Racing Enthusiast Handicap Chase beating top-weight Calin Du Brizais.

It was proving a frustrating afternoon for Skelton, with Peppay Le Pugh, his sole runner at Carlisle, beaten in a three-horse race and Elton Des Mottes withdrawn from the Actuate Marketing “National Hunt” Maiden Hurdle. The race went to Boomarang, a course bumper winner this season, who had shown promise in two runs over hurdles, and broke his jumping duck for trainer Emma Lavelle at the expense of odds-on favourite Falco Blitz.

Closest finish of the afternoon came in the Save The Children Celebrating 100 Years Novices’ Handicap Chase with Iniesta, who was making his debut over fences, and Old Harry Rocks locked in battle up the run-in. It took the camera to separate the two, with Iniesta just getting his head in front near the line to give Trowbridge trainer Michael Blake his fourth winner of the season.

Skelton had one more chance to land a winner on the afternoon and his Grande Waltz was made the 7-4 favourite to take the closing South West Racing Club Handicap Hurdle, but was pulled up when tailed off before the home turn.

Malangen looked to have a tough task for a four-year-old in carrying top-weight of 11-13, but he was David Pipe’s only runner at the meeting and Tom Scudamore’s only ride. Those that took the hint were rewarded as Malangen led before the final flight and saw off outsider Can You Believe It.

The next raceday at Newton Abbot Racecourse is Wednesday 8th May. Racing starts at 14.00 with gates opening at 12.00. Tickets can be bought at our online ticket store until 10am on the day of the fixture.