Jul 23, 2018

Newton Abbot Racecourse Race Report Sunday 22 July 2018

Irish raider Ornua and conditional jockey Dylan Robinson made all the running to easily land the feature Class 2 Visit attheraces.com Novices’ Chase at Newton Abbot’s Family Fun Raceday on Sunday to make it a winner with his first runner at the course for Irish trainer Henry De Bromhead.

In the absence of Our Three Sons, just three faced the starter with Ornua a hot 4-9 favourite to score, although there was market support for Paul Nicholls’ Capeland, backed from 5-2 into 7-4 in the lead-up to the meeting. A winner of two hurdles and a point-to-point, Ornua got off the mark over fences at Wexford last time out and, on this showing, will be making his mark in novice races as the season progresses.

A double at Market Rasen the day before made it 7 wins from 11 runners in the last two weeks for trainer Dr Richard Newland and his Cotton Club was odds-on favourite to land the opening At The Races Sky 415 Maiden Hurdle over two and three-quarter miles.

Ridden by Aidan Coleman, Cotton Club was always close to the pace and went on after jumping the third-last flight. Travelling strongly in behind was Worcester bumper winner Push The Tempo and, having jumped to the front at the final obstacle, he drew away on the run-in to score by two and a half lengths.

Champion conditional jockey James Bowen was looking to make it three wins in just eight days on Jonjo O’Neill’s Tidal Watch in the Racing Partnership TRP Novices’ Handicap Hurdle and, after being held up early on, Tidal Watch cruised into the race to go past leader Powerstown Park jumping the penultimate flight and win as he liked.

Charlie Mon set out to make all the running in the Badger Bennett Memorial Handicap Chase, but was struggling down the back straight as top-weight Call Me Vic and Adrian Heskin started to up the pace. One by one, their rivals fell away, but Nick Scholfield was tracking them on Guerrilla Tactics, who made a sustained challenge from the last fence only for the post to come just in time for Call Me Vic who held on by three quarters of a length.

Cracker Factory, who failed to win in four starts on the Flat, made it two out of two over jumps when landing the NewtonAbbotRace On Twitter Juvenile Hurdle and winning jockey Daryl Jacob was back in the number one spot 35 minutes later with winning point-to-pointer Top Chief, having his second run for Colin Tizzard and backed from 5-1 into 7-2, who fought back to beat As You Like on the run-in.

There was another close finish to the concluding Download The Free attheraces iPad App Handicap Hurdle and it was Mamoo and Jack Quinlan who came out on top, getting the verdict by a head from Tea Time Fred and Lucy Gardner.

The next fixture at Newton Abbot Racecourse is Monday 30 July with racing starting at 13.45 and gates opening at 11.45. Buy your tickets at our online ticket store until 10am on the day of the fixture or at the gates on the day.