Aug 20, 2018

Newton Abbot Racecourse Preview Tuesday 21 August 2018

Although we are still in August, the days are already getting shorter and Newton Abbot stages the last of its evening meetings today with a six-race card topped by the Class 3 newtonabbotracing.com Handicap Hurdle over two miles.

Harry Skelton, who went into the short summer break topping the jockeys’ championship table, wasted no time in getting back to winning ways when his first ride Holryale scored at Worcester on Wednesday. He has failed to add to his total in nine rides since, however, going into last evening’s fixture at Bangor-on-Dee on the 76-winner mark.

On the other hand, reigning champion Richard Johnson has been in sparkling form, winning on six of his 15 rides since the resumption of jumping action, including a five-timer at Perth on Saturday, enabling him to close the gap on Skelton to 21.

They both ride in the Racegoers Club 50th Anniversary “National Hunt” Novices’ Hurdle over two and a quarter miles, which kicks off the evening’s action at 5.00pm, with Skelton looking to have the better chance on Set List, runner-up at Fakenham in May on his second appearance for the stable.

But, even in receipt of weight, he may find it hard to cope with Exeter winner Serosevsky, who gave odds-on favourite Dead Right a real fright when trying to follow up under a penalty at Warwick and will be ridden by Aine O’Connor, who landed a win for the Harry Fry stable at Southwell on Sunday.

Next up is the Phillip Dodd Memorial Handicap Chase over an extended two and a half miles in which Moorlands Jack looks to add his eight wins over fences since joining Dulverton trainer Jeremy Scott. Three of those victories have come over the course, including a 13 length defeat of Mick Thonic in May, but he has been raised to a new handicap rating of 114, just one pound below his highest-ever winning mark, so will need to be on his best form.

As You Like has shown improved form this season with Aidan Coleman, winning two of his three chasing starts, and wasn’t disgraced when beaten just a head by Top Chief at the course last month. The form took a bit of a knocking with the winner disappointing when only fourth here last week, but As You Like may not have stopped improving yet and is taken to deny Moorlands Jack another win.

With a prize fund of £12,800 up for grabs, the feature race has attracted a competitive field, with the classy Court Minstrel looking to defy top-weight of 12-2.

Once rated at 157, Court Minstrel has mixed it with the best over the years but, at the age of eleven, his glory days look to be behind him now and he may find it tough to see off the improving Red Tornado, an easy winner at Stratford last time, and the five-year-old Passing Call who, after a run of near misses, including when hampered on the run-in here in June, finally got her head in front at Worcester.

But, it may pay to take a chance with Johnson’s mount Cleni Wells, trained locally at Littlehempston by Martin Hill, who won a Class 2 event over the course off a rating of 117 in June last year, but now races from a 4lb lower mark.

Nine line up for the longest race of the evening, the Remembering Dear Lauren Scott Memorial Handicap Hurdle over an extended three and a quarter miles, with Lord Topper, a course winner under today’s jockey Page Fuller, heading the weights.

After two wins, Good Man Vinnie seemed to find it hard work handling the inevitable rise in the weights at Uttoxeter last time and he reverts to hurdles where he can race from a 12lb lower mark than over fences. Others to note are Kalmbeforethestorm and Mamoo, who are both trying for back-to-back course wins from higher handicap marks.

Course regular Charlie Mon will be trying to get his head in front for the first time this season in the Racegoers Club 50th Anniversary Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Chase but, if Top Chief is none the worse for his exertions last week, he is taken to get back on the winning trail for trainer Colin Tizzard.

Ayelya, trained by Olly Murphy, can give Johnson another winner in the concluding Actuate Marketing Mares’ Handicap Hurdle.

Tickets are available at our online ticket store until 10am on the day of the fixture and will also be available at the gates on the day.