Jul 19, 2019

Newton Abbot Racecourse Preview Sunday 21 July

Family fun awaits at Newton Abbot’s Family Raceday on Sunday and a big crowd is expected for the seven-race card which has over £90,000 in prize money on offer.

Statistics recently released by Great British Racing revealed that 79% of parents in Plymouth believe there aren’t enough low-cost activities available for children during the summer holidays, leading to more children spending fewer hours outside, something that racecourse managing director Patrick Masterson is keen to address.

“Newton Abbot proudly supports Great British Racing in targeting under-18s to come free to racecourses,” he said. “It is imperative that we encourage the racegoers of the future to enjoy great days out at the racecourse. We look forward to welcoming families over the summer and year-round.”

Highlight of the afternoon’s racing is the Class 3 Sky Sports Racing On Sky 415 Novices’ Chase over two miles with £17,000 in the prize fund and, although just four have been declared, it’s a fascinating contest.

Leading trainer Dan Skelton runs Al Shahir from his two entries and, although he has something to find on form, is lightly-raced and in receipt of weight from the others. Capital Force has also been declared at Stratford, but would need a career-best performance to win this race and preference goes to the top two Caius Marcius and Ennistown.

Good ground seems to be the key to Caius Marcius, who bounced back to winning form at Hexham and makes the long journey down from Nicky Richards’ Cumbria stable. Ennistown won here at the last meeting and runs in this race in preference to the big chase at Market Rasen on Saturday and might just have the edge in a race to savour.

Gates open two hours before the first race, the Tracey Harris Maiden Hurdle over two and three-quarter miles due off at 2.05pm, in which eight have been declared with Velvet Revolution, four times a winner on the flat when trained by Marco Botti, fancied to step up on his promising hurdles debut at Ffos Las.

The more experienced Danboru is the choice from two entries for trainer Tim Vaughan, although most of his racing has been done over the larger obstacles, and Miss Zip, behind Velvet Revolution last time, is another for the short-list.

Trainer Milton Harris has declared hat-trick seeking Riviere Argentee in the Adrian Victor Hedley Mogg Novices’ Handicap Hurdle, rather than take up alternative weekend engagements at Cartmel and Stratford. Vanderbilt showed his best form when runner-up to Russian’s Legacy over the course last time, but has been raised 4lbs as a result, and top weight Kiruna Peak has had a break since scoring at Huntingdon.

Prolific winning mare Midnight Folie was looking for her ninth successive win in point-to-points and over jumps when caught close home at Ffos Las on Thursday and it will be interesting to see if she turns out again in the Anne And Russell Dennis 80th Birthday Celebrations Mares’ Handicap Chase over three and a quarter miles.

She is 13lb higher than when winning over the course and distance in July and may find Chasma, running here in preference to the Ffos Las race, too hot to handle.

Canford Dancer, by the high class Canford Cliffs, is a rare runner over jumps for trainer Richard Hughes in the £16,000 Brendon Soper Memorial Juvenile Hurdle. Still a maiden on flat, Canford Dancer is up against experienced rivals in Must See The Doc and Maria Magdalena, who finished first and second at Aintree last month.

The runner-up ran well again at Stratford last Sunday but, even on worse terms, Must See The Doc is fancied to confirm the form and win this valuable prize.

Isle Road made all the running to win over hurdles at the last meeting and can score again reverting to fences in the newtonabbotracing.com Handicap Chase over two miles and five furlongs.

The meeting closes with the longest race of the afternoon, the Racing Partnership Handicap Hurdle over 3m 2f.

Tickets can be bought at the racecourse’s online ticket store until 10am on the day of the fixture or at the gates on arrival.