Jun 24, 2019

Newton Abbot Racecourse Preview Tuesday 25 June 2019

It’s the St Austell Brewery Ladies Day at Newton Abbot and, after the loss of the last meeting to the wet June weather, it will be fingers crossed that the sun shines on what is one of the most popular fixtures of the season.

The seven-race card kicks off at 5.45pm with the Racing Partnership TRP Novices’ Handicap Hurdle over an extended two and a quarter miles and it sees the biggest field of the evening with 15 runners headed by the lightly-raced course bumper winner Pokari, who reappears after wind surgery, and Throckley, who is still looking for his first win over jumps after ten starts.

Lapford Lad will be fancied to land his third course win of the season for trainer Sue Gardner, but is now 11lbs higher than when recording his first success last month, and it may pay to side with Exeter winner Dora’s Field, who can step up on her second to Stand By Me over the course last month.

David Chillery has been sponsoring a race at this meeting for a number of years, each with a colourful title, and this year is no exception with the David Chillery Continues Celebrating His Divorce Novices’ Handicap Chase over three and a quarter miles.

Midnight Folie won seven times in point-to-points for Amber Mathias before scoring by 15 lengths on her Rules debut for Tim Vaughan at Ffos Las. Vaughan sent out Presenting Berkley to win the race last year and, although she made a couple of mistakes on her debut and carries a 7lb penalty for that win, Midnight Folie must have a good chance of doubling up, with another point-to-point winner Skinflint the possible danger on his first run since re-joining trainer David Pipe.

Topping the bill is the £22,500 St Austell Brewery Handicap Chase over two miles and five furlongs, which has been transferred from the abandoned meeting and three of the original intended runners have been declared again.

Paul Nicholls’ course and distance winner Romain De Senam, who shares top weight with Sizing Codelco, will need to put up a career-best performance to win this from a rating of 149, although amateur rider Bryan Carver’s claim reduces his burden by 7lbs. It is difficult to fancy Sizing Codelco on his recent form, but the third runner, Beggar’s Wishes, another course and distance winner, who won on heavy going here last October, now races from a 4lb lower mark and looks handily-weighted.

Kentford Heiress, who beat Pingshou here earlier this month, is chasing her fourth win in a row and, despite another rise in the weights, might not have stopped winning yet.

The Olly Murphy trained three-time winner The Butcher Said has to give weight to all his rivals in the newtonabbotracing.com Novices’ Hurdle, but is progressing with each run and it is difficult to see him being beaten. Point winner Belle of Steele makes her debut for Shaldon trainer Katie Stephens and Ballyjim, who was hampered on his hurdles debut at Worcester, could be in the mix this time.

Old Harry Rocks was sent off favourite at Stratford last week, but was out of the race after jumping slowly at the first fence, gradually becoming more remote before finishing last to Impressive Duke. He could recoup losses in the Fred Champion Groundworks Handicap Chase, although Robin Des People, having his first run after wind surgery and wearing a tongue tie, is an interesting contender on his second outing for Fergal O’Brien.

Jimmy Rabbitte rattled up a hat-trick after joining Dr Richard Newland’s stable last year before rounding off the season when fourth to Dino Velvet at Market Rasen. He reappears in the Janet Denning Fifehead Farms Memorial Handicap Hurdle for lady amateur riders and should go well despite his burden of 11-12.

Becky Smith, who finished runner-up to Tabitha Worsley in last season’s lady amateur riders championship, is an interesting booking for Chris Down’s Billy My Boy, and she can go one better in the race than last year when runner-up in a close finish on Green Or Black

Course and distance winner Mr Mafia ran his best race for some time when third to Mercers Court at Stratford to suggest that he could defy top weight in the longest race on the card, the St Austell Brewery Handicap Hurdle over three miles and three furlongs.

Alongside the racing, there is also the popular Best Dressed competitions – Best Dressed Lady, Best Dressed Gent and Best Hat.

Tickets can be bought at our online ticket store until 10am on the day of the fixture or at the gate on the day.