Oct 14, 2024

Race preview: Saturday 19 October

David Hucker
Racing correspondent

It’s the penultimate meeting of the season at Newton Abbot on Saturday when the £25,000 Brendon Soper Memorial Intermediate Chase over two miles and five furlongs tops a seven-race card that gets underway at 2.05pm.

Ginny’s Destiny, three times a chase winner, is the standout entry in the feature race, finishing runner-up at both the Cheltenham and Aintree Festivals, form that takes him well clear of his rivals, the best of whom look to be the experienced Triple Trade, who would be seeking a fifth chase win, and Coco Mademoiselle.

The opening British Stallion Studs EBF “National Hunt” Novices’ Hurdle (Qualifier) over two miles and one furlong has attracted 12 entries including the Jeremy Scott-trained Came From Nowhere, third on his hurdles debut at Uttoxeter in May, looking the one to beat, should he line up here instead of at Stratford-on-Avon where he also holds an entry. Wincanton winner Don’t tell Su is another to note, together with Irish bumper winner, Glynn Brae, now trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies who also has a Stratford entry.

Goodwin, a winner of three of his six starts, could make a winning debut over fences in the £18,000 Keith Dewar 80th Birthday Celebration Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase at the expense of Inca De Lafayette, who also has entry at Kempton Park on Sunday.

Longest race of the afternoon is the Racing Partnership Novices’ Handicap Chase over three and a quarter miles which could see Conkwell Legend get his first win over fences. Trainer Rebecca Curtis has two entries with the lightly-raced Milan Ac, second at Ffos Las over hurdles in May, perhaps having more potential than Monbari.

Also worth £18,000 is the Torbay Prostate Support Association Handicap Hurdle in which Alnilam should appreciate a drop in class from his last run when, after taking a keen hold, he finished tailed off at Aintree. Prince Quali has won his last two races, both over fences, and is 10lbs better off over hurdles and Kikijo, winner of his only start at Nantes, is a bit of an unknown quantity making his British debut.

There are 16 entries for the Eoin Mullen Memorial Handicap Hurdle and Philip Hobbs & Johnson White, Dan Skelton and Joe Tizzard all have two to choose from. Plaisir Des Flos, who would be seeking a five-timer, is the sole entry for Fergal O’Brien and may prove hard to beat.

Paul Nicholls has entered The Final Word in the closing William Hill Betting TV Open National Hunt Flat Race and, with those who have run showing little form, could be the one to be on.