Jun 24, 2024

Race Preview: Tuesday 25 June

After a delayed start to the season, the meetings are coming thick and fast now at Newton Abbot, with Tuesday’s seven-race card the third of six fixtures during the months of June and July.

Despite being raised 1lb for her run behind the progressive King’s Castle at the last meeting, Saddlers Quest looks to be the one to beat in the opening Racing Partnership TRP Amateur Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle which is due off at 2.00pm. In these races, the experience levels of the jockeys vary considerably and she will be ridden by one of the best in Joshua Newman. At the other end of the scale is Callum Pritchard, who has ridden only one winner under Rules, but is an up-and-coming point-to-point rider with 13 winners last season and his mount, course winner Sassified, looks the danger.

Out of the eleven who line up for the Newtonabbotracing.com Juvenile Maiden Hurdle, only Scottie’s Sister has had a previous run and she will need to step up on that effort when beaten 53 lengths at Market Rasen. So, this could go to one of the newcomers, with Unleash Hell, yet to win, but with some decent placed efforts to his name, the choice. Others to note are Golden Path, runner-up on his second flat start in April and Mill Street, sold by Godolphin after failing to win in four starts in the USA.

Cindysox and Huelgoat are both course winners looking to follow up in the Chris Matthews And His Amigos Novices’ Hurdle. Huelgoat had stable companion Eileen’s Milan well behind when he won three weeks ago, but Ramensky, a 10-length winner from Pyffo at Hereford, could be too good for them all.

American Gerry, runner-up to Up For Appeal over the course last time, looks to go one better in the William Hill Leading Racecourse Bookmaker Handicap Chase and, of his twelve rivals, Harlem Soul, who just failed to catch Tribesmans Glory at Warwick at the end of May, looks the most dangerous.

Although still to win on the flat or over jumps, Queen Of Steel was sent off favourite in the race won by Getmetothemoon at Stratford last time and ran well enough to suggest that the Lisa Tudor Happy 60th Birthday Today Novices’ Limited Handicap Hurdle could be within her grasp.

The smallest field of the day will set out for the Tilly And Seth Wedding Party Handicap Hurdle over three and a quarter miles, although it looks the hardest to call with a case to be made for all seven runners. Mr Tambourine Man is on a hat-trick and course winner Mr Yeats ran a promising third last time on his second start for trainer Harriet Dickin, but the consistent Sea The Clouds could win again.

Robinsville, third to Easy Bucks over the course at the beginning of the month, and Ballinoulart are the two that make most appeal in the closing St Austell Brewery Novices’ Handicap Chase over three and a quarter miles, although Guivinec, having his first run since wind surgery, could show improvement.