Sep 26, 2024

Race preview: Monday 30 September 2024

The recent heavy rain has turned the going heavy at Newton Abbot, but there should still be some competitive racing with a six-race card that gets underway at 2.00pm.

Five of the nine runners in the opening Weatherbys Stallion Book Conditional Jockeys’ Selling Handicap Hurdle over two and a quarter miles will carry more weight than their rating would indicate which, in theory, should favour the other four who are all properly handicapped.

Top weight has been allotted to Silent Revolution, who looks to be on a confidence-boosting mission, having made mistakes before being pulled up behind Beat Box in a chase at Worcester last time. He previously blundered away his chance in a chase over the course at the end of August and reverts to hurdles for the first time since February when he ran in a much better class race than today.

David Pipe has chosen Kintaro, still looking for his first win after 15 races, from his three entries, but the one who could give Silent Revolution most to do is course winner Afta Party, who ran fifth to Daany at the last meeting and has been dropped 2lbs by the handicapper since.

Cotswold trainer Fergal O’Brien runs two in the following Happy 50th Birthday Steve Hall Novices’ Hurdle in the shape of Can’t Resist It, who brings some useful form into the race having finished runner-up to dual winner Ittack Blue last time, and Southwell winner Hard As Nails. Leading trainer Dan Skelton has chosen multiple bumper winner Ronnies Rules from his two entries and this progressive young horse could make a winning hurdles debut.

The trip is three and a quarter miles for the Visit attheraces.com Novices’ Handicap Hurdle in which Skyjack Hijack bids to make it three wins in a row for Staffordshire trainer Jennie Candlish. He has a 7lb penalty for his 12-length winner at Perth last Thursday, but may still come good here. Coconut Twist, a course winner over fences, has not won in twelve previous attempts over hurdles, but is an interesting contender in receipt of a lot of weight from Skyjack Hijack.

The consistent Guard The Moon, a winner at Hexham last time, has to carry top weight on his first run in a handicap, but may be up to winning the Visit Our Antiques & Collectables Fair On 12th October Handicap Hurdle. He won a flat race on heavy ground at Bangor-on-Dee, so should handle the conditions, and may have most to fear from Stratford maiden hurdle winner Paddys Island.

There are two Class 3 chases to complete the card, starting with the Happy 30th Birthday Jack Dormand Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase, in which Skelton’s Home Free looks the best of the four runners. This is followed by the Par Inn Handicap Chase which features multiple course winner Investment Manager and Hold Your Fort, who has won four times at the course this summer, but has yet to encounter ground as testing as he will face today.

By: David Hucker