May 22, 2026

Race preview: Wednesday 27th May 2026 - UPDATED

David Hucker
Racing correspondent

With a glorious week of weather in store for school half-term holidays, Wednesday sees the second of this season’s popular Family Days at Newton Abbot with six races starting at 2.53pm with the Stock Exe Mares’ ‘National Hunt’ Novices’ Hurdle over an extended two miles.

The ultra-consistent Lady Kara, never out of the first four in nine races, broke her duck at Hereford and, despite carrying a 7lb penalty as a result, sets the standard here. Stratford bumper winner Frenati, runner-up under a penalty over the course in April, and Newbury winner Lady Litigator, both trained by Anthony Honeyball, look the likely dangers on their hurdling debuts.

Nationally, the first month of the 2026/27 season has seen reigning champion trainer Dan Skelton quick out of the blocks to take an early lead in the table. He needs to train an average of 20 winners a month to beat Martin Pipe’s record of 243 and Thickthorn Tom, runner-up to Lunar Ocean at Fontwell Park last time, could add to his total in the following Totnes and Bridgetown Races Company Ltd Novices’ Handicap Chase over two miles and five furlongs.

The winner was given an enterprising ride that day and Thickthorn Tom, who didn’t have much room when challenging, races off the same handicap mark here. Point-to-point winner Roi Du Roume, a beaten favourite at Perth last time, could be the danger.

Feature race of the afternoon is the £15,000 Hugh Michelmore Memorial Handicap Chase over three and a quarter miles and Time To Bite, trained at Ashburton by Chris Honour, bids for a fourth course win. He runs in this race in preference to one at Cartmel on Monday and in the last race here where he would have carried 15lbs less in weight.

A winner of ten races in all, Time To Bite’s rating was raised to an all-time high of 127 after his recent win at Fakenham, so he will need to put up a career-best performance to win this. Bottom-weight Rickety Bridge, trained by Paul Nicholls, won at the first time of asking over fences earlier this month, but takes on more experienced horses this time.

Although carrying top weight, course winner Reel Orange catches the eye in the Chris Wills Memorial Novices’ Limited Handicap Hurdle with multiple point-to-point winner Scoresby, who won over hurdles last time, a danger in receipt of 12lbs in weight.

Ellerton looks to follow up his win at the last meeting in the Mrs. Pamela Ann Dobbs Birthday Celebration Handicap Hurdle over two and three-quarter miles with the Nicholls-trained Byzantium, who had Time To Bite 25 lengths in arrears when winning over hurdles at the course last season, looking the one to beat.

Clotilda, runner-up over the course last time, carries top weight in the closing Racing Foundation Supports Autism In Racing Handicap Hurdle over three and a quarter miles, but she might not beat Supreme Yeats, the choice from two entries in the race by Dan Skelton, who has been raised 6lbs for his narrow course and distance win over I Am Spider Man earlier this month.