Sep 24, 2018

Newton Abbot Racecourse Review Friday 21 September 2018

Progressive hurdler Highway One O One, ridden by Tom Cannon, made a winning debut over fences to land Newton Abbot’s feature Devondale Electrical Novices’ Chase on Friday, comfortably beating Cheltenham Festival winner Flying Tiger.

Although four lined up, the race looked to be between useful hurdler Flying Tiger, whose biggest success came in the 2017 Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle, and three-time winner Highway One O One, who probably ran his best race in defeat when runner-up to Ballymoy in a valuable novice event at Sandown Park on the final day of last season.

The two rivals had cleared the penultimate fence together, but it was Highway One O One who asserted going to the last and, having put in the better jump, came away on the run-in to win by six lengths.

With three absentees, there were eight for the opening Independent Racecourses Limited IRL Novices’ Hurdle over two and three-quarter miles, with Colin Tizzard’s Quite By Chance, five times a winner over fences, sent off the 6-5 favourite.

But, it was 5-2 shot Push The Tempo, who had landed a bumper at Worcester before beating Cotton Club over the course and distance in July, who came out on top, leading at the second-last flight to easily beat the other previous winner in the race No Hiding Place.

Tizzard’s Top Chief has become a bit of a standing dish at the course in recent weeks, having run five times in all, winning on his second appearance in July.
He hadn’t managed to score since but, with conditional jockey Angus Cheleda again in the saddle and reducing his weight by 10lb, Top Chief got back to winning form in the Devondale Electrical Handicap Chase, leading into the home straight to beat Scoop The Pot, who made mistakes at the last two fences, and Calin Du Brizais in a tight finish.

Shiroccan Roll, third behind Rhythm Is A Dancer in an Exeter bumper back in May, made a winning debut over jumps when landing the Happy 60th Birthday Chris Cross Novices’ Hurdle for trainer Emma Lavelle, going past 66-1 outsider Buachaill Beag between the last two flights for a comfortable win.

Rocket Ronnie came into the meeting still waiting on his first win after 14 attempts, but was only caught on the line by Compatriot over the course last time and, although raised 3lb for that effort, was able to run from the same handicap mark in the Peter Edwards 80th Birthday Party Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle.

The weight made all the difference, as Rocket Ronnie put in a fine leap at the final flight and just held the persistent challenge of Slaying The Dragon by a neck, with top-weight Winter Spice back in third.

Noel Fehily had just two rides on the card, but went home with a winner when favourite Western Sunrise, trained by Johnny Farrelly, took the closing Sky Sports Racing Launching In 2019 Handicap Hurdle by one and three-quarter lengths from Tea Time Fred.

The next fixture at Newton Abbot Racecourse is Monday 1 October, with racing starting at 14.20 and gates opening at 12.20. Tickets can be bought at our online ticket store until 10am on the day of the fixture.