Jul 12, 2019

Newton Abbot Racecourse Race Preview Saturday 13th July 2019

Trainer Colin Tizzard runs two in the feature Class 2 Actuate Marketing Handicap Chase at Newton Abbot, with the hat-trick seeking Bally Longford, ridden by Jonjo O’Neill Jr, looking the pick of the pair.

This three and a quarter mile trip will be the longest that Bally Longford has tackled since October 2017, but he shouldn’t fail through lack of stamina on the flat Newton Abbot track and may face the greatest danger in Scoop The Pot, another looking for his third win in a row and one of two in the race owned by JP McManus.

It all gets underway at 2.25pm with the Watch Sky Sports Racing In HD Novices’ Chase over two miles and five furlongs, for which just three runners have been declared. Trainer Laura Hurley is still looking for her first winner since moving from Warwickshire to Devon, but her Candyman Can has a lot on his plate here, with the race looking a match between Ennistown and Pingshou.

Although official form figures favour Pingshou, runner-up to Kentford Heiress here on his last run, Ennistown won well at Cartmel, his second success since joining trainer Anthony Honeyball a year ago, and he could come out on top in what may prove a tactical race.

Hat-trick seeking No Hidden Charges will be a short price to land the Follow @attheraces On Twitter Novices’ Hurdle and it is difficult to see any of his three rivals landing a blow. This two and three-quarter mile trip will be right up his street and, on all known form, he should take this comfortably.

Bryony Frost takes the ride on Risk And Roll in the longest race of the day, the Fiona Crawford Equestrian Photographer Lady Riders’ Handicap Hurdle over three miles and three furlongs. He runs in this in preference to the opening race and, whilst he will have the country’s leading lady rider in the saddle, looks to have a tough task off top weight.

There is a strong Welsh challenge in Judge Earle, who failed to follow up his facile course win when well-backed at Cartmel, and Cotttonvale, runner-up to The Jam Man at the last meeting, and whose weight will be reduced to just 9-12 by the claim of Isabel Williams, successful here in a similar race on Ladies’ Day.

The biggest field of the afternoon will line up for the newtonabbotracing.com Handicap Hurdle with the weights headed by Magical Thomas, ridden by Millie Wonnacott. Beaten a long way behind Tamarillo Grove over the course last month, he is not without a chance on the strength of his Fontwell Park win in April from a 4lb lower mark.

Too Much To Ask won well at Cartmel under champion jockey Richard Johnson, but has seen a hike in his rating as a result, and the veteran Ladies Dancing, trained by Chris Down, runs here in preference to Stratford.

Alexander The Grey had three entries at Stratford, but trainer Graeme McPherson has opted to run him under top weight in the Racing Partnership Handicap Chase over two miles. Another declared to run here rather than at the Warwickshire course is Polo The Mumm, a winner twice over hurdles for Jackie Du Plessis, and successful twice over jumps since joining Somerset trainer Alexandra Dunn, including under today’s jockey Jamie Bargary,

Matts Legacy, returning to hurdles after a successful spell in point-to-points, can take the closing Newton Abbot Racecourse On Facebook Handicap Hurdle.

The next raceday at Newton Abbot Racecourse is Saturday 13 July – gates open at 12.25 and racing starts at 14.25. Buy your tickets at our online ticket store