Aug 27, 2024

Race preview: Saturday 31 August 2024

It’s the last weekend of the school summer holidays and a big family crowd is expected at Newton Abbot on Saturday, with the £25,000 Aubrey Loze Memorial Handicap Hurdle the highlight of the six-race card.

Tommie Beau, a winner at Cartmel on Monday, carries top weight in the feature race, but has proven stamina which should stand him in good stead. He has to give 10lbs to Tronador, a winner first time out for Olly Murphy, having been trained previously in Ireland by Gordon Elliott, but beaten a long way by Lallygag at Worcester last time. Six-time course winner Clearance could never get on terms with Sergeant at the last meeting and, although his regular jockey Tom Cannon will be on board Way Out this time, can still give the others a run for their money stepping up in distance.

Ten line up for the opening Newton Abbot Racecourse On Facebook Novices’ Hurdle due off at 2.15pm including dual hurdles winner Brave Knight. A winner twice on the flat when trained by Sir Mark Prescott, Brave Knight has taken well to hurdles, earning an official rating of 120. He has to give weight away to all his rivals, the best of which could be Dodger Long, beaten a short head on his first outing for Harriet Dickin.

Next up is the second-most valuable race of the afternoon, the Racing Partnership Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase, which sees Hidalgo de L’Isle make the long journey from Donald McCain’s Cheshire yard. He finished down the field in Market Rasen’s Summer Hurdle but, interestingly, three places in front of Fringill Dike, who also reverted to chasing to win the feature race at the last meeting.

Top-weight Carrigeen Kampala has won three times over hurdles here, but went off far too fast in her last race, falling at the third flight. She makes her chasing debut today, as does Get Sky High, twice a winner at Warwick in May and successful in her sole point-to-point outing in Ireland. In receipt of weight from all the others, Get Sky High could be the one to come out on top,

Tonto Foley, a winner of three of his six chases, looks the one to beat in the Visit attheraces.com Handicap Chase. He shares top weight of 12-00 with Beat Box, who took advantage of the 11lb weight concession by previous winner Dream Jet to score at Market Rasen.

Kauto The King was beaten eight lengths by Glynn on his last run, with Begin The Luck back in third. Glynn franked the form when winning again at Stratford on Tuesday and, although he hasn’t won for a year, Kauto The King could come good again in the William Hill Leading Racecourse Bookmaker Handicap Chase.

Zhang Fei won well over the course last month and could follow up in the newtonabbotracing.com Handicap Hurdle which brings the afternoon to a close at 5.05pm. Fakenham chase winner Omaha Wish fell last time and Dan Skelton’s mare is reverting to hurdles here whilst the consistent Good Impression led over the last flight at the course last month only to be denied on the run-in, finishing third to Karannelle.