Sep 16, 2024

Race preview: Friday 20 September 2024

Newton Abbot stages the second of its three September meetings on Friday with a seven-race card that gets underway at 2.10pm with the Tripemasters Maiden Hurdle over two miles and five furlongs.

This looks a good opportunity for Tribal Glory, runner-up on his hurdles debut over the course, to step up over this longer trip. Leading trainer Dan Skelton has selected Shakeyatailfeather from his two entries and she has the benefit of more experience, having run five times over hurdles and in better class races.

There are two Class 3 contests with the Colin Willcocks Memorial Handicap Hurdle, worth £18,650, just coming out on top in prize money to be won. Five of the eight runners have won over the course, including six-time winner Clearance, who finished third to Lallygag over this trip last month. Tom Cannon, who knows the horse well, is back in the saddle and they may have most to fear from bottom-weight Melton Mossy.

There will be plenty of competition, however, including Wonderful Eagle, who made a winning return from wind surgery on the flat at Goodwood last month, and Finisk River, who makes the long trip from Donald McCain’s Cheshire stable with former champion Brian Hughes taking the ride.

Also a Class 3 contest is the Newton Abbot Novices’ Chase which will see the front-running Glynn seek to complete a hat-tick of wins. Even more prolific is Riskintheground, who has won four times this season with his only defeat coming when finishing fifth to Sure Touch in Market Rasen’s Class1 Summer Plate.

Lallygag is the choice from two entries for Paul Nicholls but, whilst a course winner over hurdles, he showed no form in his two chase outings last year. Completing the field is chasing debutant Secret Trix, a winner at Uttoxeter on his first run after wind surgery, but pulled up at Cartmel last time.

Southwell winner Hard As Nails was sent off the odds-on favourite for her next run over the course, being beaten by Dame Sarra, and was beaten again when third at Cartmel at the end of June. She sets the standard, however, in the Devondale Electrical Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle, and may have most to fear from stable companion Leloopa, having her second run for the Paddy Brennan Racing Syndicate.

With 22 of the 30 entries for the Devondale Electrical Handicap Hurdle declared to run, the race has been divided with both divisions looking open affairs. In the first division, Daany, who has been raised 5lbs for his win here last month when he had Pak Army back in third, can come out on top again, whilst another course winner Colonel Lesley could be the one to follow in the second.

Hold The Fort, three times a course winner this season, will try to extend his sequence in the closing Ashley Maunder Never Better… Handicap Chase over three and a quarter miles. He has risen 38lbs in the handicap since his first win, however, and bottom-weight Honey I’m Good has a big turnaround in the weights from their running in July and is closely matched with another course winner Great d’Ange on their Stratford race last time.