May 26, 2025

Race preview: Wednesday 28 May 2025

David Hucker
Racing correspondent

Racing returns at Newton Abbot next Wednesday when the Class 3 Investment Manager Handicap Chase is the feature race on All About The Horse Family Day which gets underway at 2.18pm.

Amongst the runners is Investment Manager himself, who will be bidding to add to his five wins over the course for trainer Joe Tizzard. Hold Your Fort, who won four times over the course last summer, looked back to something like his old self at the last meeting when chasing home the Tizzard-trained Belgarum. Three times a winner over hurdles, Kick Up A Storm has not been seen out since last November and Planned Paradise is now only 3lbs higher than when winning at Windsor in January.

Six of the ten entries have stood their ground for the opening Katie Stevens Mares’ “National Hunt” Novices’ Hurdle in which Sharp Glance, one of two runners for trainer Alan King, sets the standard after her third to Belle Le Grand at Warwick. The winner won again at Cartmel on Monday to frank the form and she has an obvious chance here.

Point-to-point winner Jack N Jones makes her hurdles debut after a couple of promising bumper runs, as does the second King runner And She Was, who will be ridden by stable jockey Tom Cannon..

With 14 runners, the Amber Stevens Novices’ Limited Handicap Hurdle boasts the biggest field of the afternoon. Newmarket trainer James Owen runs both his entries in the shape of top-weight Market House and Mr Le Philosophe, who was well-backed to make a winning debut for the stable at Warwick last week. Crystal Mer, not seen out for a year, makes his debut for trainer Hughie Morrison, but Mr Le Philosophe could go one better here.

Another returning after an absence is Ryder’s Rock, pulled up over hurdles at Wincanton on Boxing Day, who makes his chasing debut after wind surgery in the Happy Birthday Lucia Stevens Novices’ Handicap Chase. Tellairsue is another chasing debutant and Daring Plan ran well after wind surgery for Longdown trainer Sue Gardner in a chase at Fontwell Park last time.

Striking A Pose was all-out to win a small race at Warwick last time, but should appreciate the shorter distance of the Chris Wills Memorial Handicap Hurdle. The progressive Al Sayah won over the course at the beginning of the month and could score again.

Despite only having six runners, the closing Totnes And Bridgetown Chase Company Open Hunters’ Chase should be an intriguing contest in which top weight will be carried by Yccs Portocervo who was entered, but not declared in a similar race at the last meeting.

A look through the form book shows Jack’s A Legend mixing it with Grand National winner I Am Maximus in a Newbury novice hurdle in December 2021 and On Springs, a winner of five chases under Rules, comes into the race on the back of three point-to-point wins.