May 16, 2019

Newton Abbot Racecourse Review Wednesday 15 May

The veteran Tamarillo Grove rolled back the years to record his seventh win at Newton Abbot yesterday, landing the feature Rewarding Ownership With The ROA Handicap Hurdle for trainer Sophie Leech and jockey Connor Brace.

Top-weight Wells De Lune took the field along at a good pace tracked by the hard-pulling Passing Call and favourite Casa Tall, with Brace waiting patiently at the rear of the field as the runners passed the winning post on the first circuit. When Casa Tall went on at the end of the back straight, he looked to be travelling well enough, but was quickly passed by Tamarillo Grove and Passing Call, who jumped the penultimate flight together.

It was the 25-1 outsider Tamarillo Grove who asserted going to the last, to come away on the short run-in and beat the staying-on Nelson’s Touch and Laughing Luis, with Passing Call fading into fourth spot.

Inaminna was an impressive winner of the Enjoy Exclusive Events With The ROA Handicap Chase, leading at the second-last fence and going clear of his rivals in the hands of Tom Scudamore to post a seven-length success.

Favourite Ollie Vaar made mistakes, but was still in contention turning for home, only to lose his action and be quickly pulled up by James Bowen.

Wearing a tongue-tie for the first time, Taaffes Castle just failed to overhaul Telson Barley when 2lb out of the handicap at Warwick on his most recent outing. That was over hurdles and he was sent off the 7-4 favourite to make a winning debut over fences in the ROA Members Enjoy Free Racing Novices’ Handicap Chase over three and a quarter miles.

He was just denied, however, as 12-1 shot Quinto, who had been beaten 35 lengths on his last start back in February, got off the mark over fences at the 14th attempt for the Frost Racing Club. The two had the race between them up the home straight and, although Taaffes Castle looked to be going the better, it was the diminutive Quinto, ridden by Bryony Frost for her father Jimmy, who prevailed by three-quarters of a length.

Dual winner Dolphin Square set the standard in the Racehorse Owners Association Supports Mental Health Week Novices’ Hurdle although punters made Igor, who ran with promise on his debut at Ascot in November, only to disappoint when returning to the course the following month, the even-money favourite.

Ridden by owner David Maxwell, who looks set to land his first amateur riders’ title when the season ends on 31 May, Dolphin Square prevailed by one and a quarter lengths, although it might have been closer had Igor not stumbled at the final flight when there was nothing between the two.

Connor Brace looked to have a good chance of making it a double with easy Warwick winner Phoebus Lescribaa, backed into 5-4 favourite, in the ROA Owners Jackpot Handicap Hurdle.

It was not to be, however, as Phoebus Lescribaa was just touched off by the longest priced winner of the afternoon in 40-1 shot Lapford Lad, trained near Exeter by Sue Gardner, who had failed to gain even a place in eleven previous starts, but collared the favourite right on the line to win by a neck.

On official ratings, this year’s renewal of the Totnes And Bridgetown Steeplechase Company Open Hunters’ Chase looked to lie between Road To Riches, on whom David Maxwell was seeking another winner, and Southfield Vic, trained by Paul Nicholls, whose Vivaldi Collonges was turned over when favourite for the race in 2018.

The two had it between them from the start and Southfield Vic and Natalie Parker went past the pacesetting Road To Riches approaching the third-last jump to win comfortably.

There was not much form to go on in the closing Benefits For ROA Members At roa.co.uk Intermediate Open National Hunt Flat Race, but The Swagman, who had run three times before, put his experience to use when making virtually all the running to hold newcomers Carys’ Commodity and Malina Ocarina at bay.

Racing returns on Wednesday 29 May with gates opening at 10.00 and the first race starting at 12.00. Tickets can be bought at our online ticket store until 10am on the day of the fixture or at the gates on the day.