Sep 15, 2025

Race preview: Friday 19th September 2025

David Hucker
Racing correspondent

The RCA Summer Jumps Championship, which began at Cartmel on 24 May, reaches its climax at Newton Abbot today with Sean Bowen and Newmarket-based James Owen having unassailable leads in the race to be leading jockey and leading trainer.

The £15,000 Colin Stratton Retirement Novices’ Chase, which gets the six-race card underway at 2.03pm, sees Art Of Diplomacy, trained by Mickey Bowen, looking for a five-timer. He shares top weight of 11-12 with Stratford winner In The Air, but is well clear on official chase ratings. The field is made up by four-time hurdles winner Catch Him Derry, who finished fifth in a Class 1 event at Aintree on his last run and, at the weights, would have a good chance of making a winning chasing debut for trainer Dan Skelton.

Skelton has opted for A Pai De Nom, not seen out since February, from his two entries in the following Bay Tree Cottage Maiden Hurdle. He returns here after wind surgery, but may find Exeter winner Maldini Milano, owned by Kate and Andrew Brooks and trained by Paul Nicholls, too good.

Joueuse Royale who was successful at Market Rasen on her second outing since joining the Olly Murphy stable, is one of two previous winners in the First Office Print And IT Solutions Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle, the other being Worcester scorer Hill In Brazil, the choice from two entries for Dr Richard Newland & Jamie Insole.

They both have to carry an extra 7lbs for their hurdle wins whereas one with winning bumper form who escapes a penalty is Highland Haven, beaten by stable companion Strong Run at Warwick back in February, but successful at Ffos Las previously.

Cumbria-based James Moffatt, who heads the table to be leading small jumps trainer, runs both Book Of Secrets and Mojo Ego in the Dartmoor Magazine Handicap Hurdle. With just two wins in 24 starts, Book Of Secrets will have a tough task with top weight and preference is for Mojo Ego who will be ridden by stable jockey Charlotte Jones. Dual winner Dickens was a beaten odds-on favourite last time, but races off the same rating here and looks the one to beat.

Owen runs Chillhi in the Colin Willcocks Memorial Handicap Hurdle and, although he has been raised 8lbs for his wide-margin Stratford win, could fight out the finish with Mohawk Chief, consistent through the summer, although beaten a long way on his only run on soft ground.

Welsh trainer Evan Williams runs three of his four entries in the closing RCA Summer Jumps Championship Finale Handicap Chase with stable jockey Adam Wedge on dual course winner Blackacre who will relish the soft ground. The danger could be Shantou Lucky, who has already won three races this month since joining the Owen stable, but has been raised 23lbs as a result. His new mark of 102 doesn’t kick in until after this race meaning he is 2lbs better off than in future races, so Owen is clearly looking to strike whilst the iron is hot.