Jul 22, 2019

Newton Abbot Racecourse Race Review Sunday 21 July 2019

Basking in the summer sunshine, a good crowd enjoyed a competitive seven-race card at Newton Abbot’s Family Day on Sunday.

Wellington-based trainer David Pipe and jockey David Noonan scored a double on the day, the first part coming when Ourmullion made most of the running in the Adrian Victor Hedley Mogg Novices’ Handicap Hurdle Race to score by eight lengths from Rivier Argentee and Vanderbilt.

“It’s great for our owner Dave Long who has had horses with us on and off over many years now,” said a delighted Pipe.

The second part of the Pipe team double came in the last race of the day, the Racing Partnership Handicap Hurdle Race, run over three miles and two furlongs. There was drama early on when Bryony Frost’s mount Strollawaynow fell at the second flight, although neither horse nor jockey were badly injured.

Pipe had two runners in the race, with Skinflint sent off the 2-1 favourite and Picture Painter, who had looked to struggle in his races previously, a 25-1 longshot. However, as the race unfolded, Noonan looked to have a double handful coming down the home straight and went on to win by one and three-quarter lengths.

The opening Tracey Harris Maiden Hurdle Race run over two and three- quarter miles went the way of the Tim Vaughan-trained Danboru under stable jockey Alan Johns. Having led from the start and surviving a mistake two flights out, Danboru came home the two and a half length winner from odds-on favourite Velvet Revolution.

Next up came the feature race of the day, the Sky Sport Racing On Sky 415 Novices Steeple Chase with £11,000 to the winner. A six and a half-hour trip from Cumbria for trainer Nicky Richards paid off when Caius Marcius followed up on his recent Hexham win, making much of the running under jockey Brian Hughes, pleasing favourite backers who sent him off at even money.

Leading trainer Dan Skelton took the Anne And Russell Dennis 80th Birthday Celebrations Mares’ Handicap Steeple Chase, when a patient ride by younger brother Harry reaped the rewards on the 9/4 shot Chasma. Although Midnight Folie had been backed into favouritism and looked the one to beat, she was soon out- jumped by Chasma, who stayed on better in this three mile and one furlong race, winning by half a length.

In the Brendon Soper Memorial Juvenile Hurdle Race, the Seamus Mullins-trained The Pink’n ridden by Daniel Sansom survived an untidy jump at the last hurdle to win by one and three-quarter lengths. “Fair play to him, he was a bit keen all the way around, but hopefully he will progress,” said the winning jockey.

Gentleman Moore, a £600 bargain purchase from Ascot sales, staying on the better to take the newtonabbotracing.com Handicap Steeplechase by eight lengths from Isle Road for Lambourn-based trainer Natalie Lloyd-Beavis.

The next raceday at Newton Abbot Racecourse is on Monday 29 July, with gates opening at 12.15pm and racing starting at 2.15pm. Tickets can be bought online until 10am on the day of the fixture or at the gates on the day.