Oct 14, 2025

Race preview: Saturday 18th October 2025

David Hucker
Racing correspondent

Trainer Paul Nicholls is eyeing further success in Newton Abbot’s £30,000 Paul Ferguson’s Jumpers To Follow Intermediate Chase with Blueking d’Oroux, having landed the race in previous seasons with Bravemansgame, Pic D’Orhy, Complete Unknown and Black Corton, who had stable companion Frodon behind him when winning in 2017.

Disappointingly for racegoers, Nicholls didn’t declare his other entry, Caldwell Potter, who became the most expensive National Hunt horse sold at public auction when purchased by current connections, but five-time hurdles winner Blueking d’Oroux, who ended last term with a win over Salver in a Grade 2 event at Sandown Park, can take the first prize back to Ditcheat instead.

Dan Skelton runs both his entries with Riskintheground, a winner of six chases and withdrawn from a race at Chepstow on Sunday because of the quickening ground, looking the one that Blueking d’Oroux has to beat.

The seven-race card gets underway at 2.15pm with the British Stallion Studs EBF “National Hunt” Novices’ Hurdle (Qualifier) which could go to Hereford winner Le Soleil Reve, trained in Devon by Jane Williams.

The in-form stable of Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies rely on Hot To Go, runner-up to Cooltobecareless in his sole Irish point-to-point, from their three entries but, with the winner beaten on his British debut at Chepstow last weekend, it is difficult to assess the form. Top-weight Havefunontherun looks to follow up his Worcester win in May and Taunton bumper winner Calvino makes his hurdles debut for Nicholls.

The longest race of the afternoon is the Weatherbys & Birdie Calendars Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Chase over three and a quarter miles and the runners include Blackacre and Testflight, two regulars at the course over the summer. At the bottom of the handicap is Of Corse I Can, who won a similar race at Fontwell Park to break his duck over jumps and winning jockey Bradley Harris is in the saddle again.

With a £15,000 prize fund, the Wollens Full Spectrum Law Handicap Hurdle is the second-most valuable race of the afternoon and has last-time-out winners American Land, Bluegrass and Courageous Strike amongst the eight runners. Courageous Strike beat just two opponents over the course in May and may find American Land, another course winner, who is seeking a four-timer, a tough nut to crack.

The Remembering Len & Pam Cartwright Handicap Hurdle looks a really competitive affair with the progressive mare Elusiveness, trained by Jeremy Scott, who had his best season in terms of prize money in 2024-25, seeking a four-timer. This may go to Coconut Twist, who was denied a clear run when finishing fourth to The Height Of Fame last time and can reverse the placings with the third horse, Stinginhisstep.

Course winner Jaitroplaclasse can follow up in the Torbay Weekly Handicap Chase at the expense of Siam Park and, with little form to go on, the betting market should give a clue as to the chances of the five runners in the closing Jodie Standing’s Point-To-Point Recruits Open National Hunt Flat Race with Skelton’s ex-Irish Soldier Reeves one to note.