Aug 14, 2018

Newton Abbot Racecourse Preview Wednesday 15 August 2018

After a short break, summer jump racing returns to Great Britain today, with Newton Abbot putting up over £70,000 in prize money for its seven-race card, topped by the Class 3 Racegoers Club 50th Anniversary Novices’ Chase.

Lambourn trainer Nicky Henderson, who is looking for a sixth championship, notched up his 3,000th jumps winner when Brave Eagle was first past the post at Worcester at the end of last month. He didn’t take long to add to his score, with Comely, owned by The Queen, winning at Market Rasen five days later and has the 140-rated Beat That in the feature race, which has £15,800 in the prize fund and will be run over a distance of three and a quarter miles.

Having fallen in two of his four chase starts, Beat That needs to brush up on his jumping but, if putting in a clear round with Nico de Boinville today, should have too much class for his rivals. Colin Tizzard’s Exxaro is much more experienced, having run 14 times over fences, but has only scored once and shouldn’t trouble the Henderson horse, for whom this looks a good opportunity to get off the mark.

There is a big field of 16 declared for the Archive Playlists Available On attheraces.com Maiden Hurdle over two and a quarter miles which gets the afternoon’s action underway at 1.50pm.

Marettimo, trained near Sherborne by Bill Turner, is still looking for his first win after nine attempts, but has been runner-up three times and should be in the mix today. American History, a winner on the Flat over a mile and a quarter at Brighton last summer, is progressing over hurdles and is another who should go close.

However, the vote goes to Delirant, owned by JP McManus, who was returning after a 557-day break and wind surgery when making his British debut for David Pipe at Bangor-on-Dee in June and should step up on that run to take this.

Dual winner Cracker Factory sets the standard in the Download The Free At The Races App Juvenile Hurdle, but has to carry a double penalty, meaning that he has to give away up to 17lbs to his five rivals. He was an impressive winner from Boko Fittleworth over the course last month, although the ground may not be quite as fast today after the recent rain, and looks like a progressive early-season juvenile.

Ventura Magic stepped up on his first run when finishing second at Uttoxeter and Rod Millman’s Red Miracle was backed on her debut at Stratford, only to fall mid-race. It is difficult to see past Cracker Factory, who will be a short price to land his hat-trick.

Mister Fizz beat Angel Of Harlem at Southwell before following up in a Class 3 event here last month in impressive style and, despite being allocated top-weight, should have a good chance of landing another success in the SP2A Supporting The Brixham Battery Handicap Hurdle over two and three-quarter miles.

Alex Hales’ admirable ten-year-old was raised 9lbs for his latest success to a new mark of 140 and has to give a lot of weight away to another improving horse in Voodoo Doll who, after completing a hat-trick, found life a bit tougher against High Secret at Market Rasen.

There is another field of 16 for the competitive-looking Racing Partnership TRP Handicap Hurdle, in which Chantecler, who made most of the running with conditional jockey Harry Reed to open his account over hurdles at the 17th attempt here last time, looks to defy top-weight of 12-4.
Runner-up Billy My Boy is 7lb better off today, but still has a big gap to close, and it may pay to follow Lord Fendale, who posted three decent efforts last month and deserves a change of luck.

Top Chief made most of the running to land his first win over fences over course and distance last month and Colin Tizzard’s runner can follow up in the Watch Replays For Free On attheraces.com Handicap Chase at the expense of Eric The Third.

Eleanorofaquitaine, who made a promising debut behind Boomarang here in June, can take the concluding Actuate Marketing Mares’ Intermediate Open National Hunt Flat Race for trainer Harry Fry and jockey Kieron Edgar, with Nanny Pat’S rated the main danger.