Oct 25, 2025

Race preview: Wednesday 29th October 2025

David Hucker
Racing correspondent

A Halloween-themed Family Day brings the curtain down on Newton Abbot’s 2025 season on Wednesday and trainers Paul Nicholls and Dan Skelton both have live chances on the six-race card card.

First up is the £15,000 South West Rail Solutions Ltd Novices’ Hurdle over two and three-quarter miles at 1.23pm which could go to A Pai De Nom, a course and distance winner last month. The choice from five entries for Skelton, he has to give weight to all his rivals, but should be up to the task. Gentleman Toboot, third in the bumper at this meeting last year, returns after wind surgery and ex-French Alidam, having his first run for Sophie Leech, is another to look out for.

Nicholls has opted to run Clotilda in the Itus Events, Safety And Security Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle (Challenger Two Mile Hurdle Series Qualifier) rather than in the following chase and she should step up on on her seasonal debut at Chepstow. Top-weight Spirits Bay, who has to carry 12-2, takes a drop in class and looks the one to beat. Lower down the handicap is dual winner Public Enemy who hasn’t been seen out since successful on good ground at Stratford at the end of May.

Bond Broker, who will be having only his second run over fences, is the Nicholls representative in the South West Rail Solutions Ltd. Handicap Chase, but he may find the more experienced Breaking Cover, who has already won four times this season, hard to beat.

King Of The Lake, who returned after a second wind operation to rattle up a hat-trick last term, makes his seasonal debut in the Class 3 Compwiz Solutions For Business Handicap Hurdle. Wide-margin Exeter winner Kayf Dancer is the choice from two entries for Philip Hobbs & Johnson White, but it’s J J Moon, trained by Emma Lavelle and ridden by Harry Cobden, who teamed up with a winner at Cheltenham on Saturday, who could take this.

Theformismighty heads the weights for the South West Rail Solutions Ltd Handicap Chase over two miles and five furlongs, but he will need to improve on his last run when tailed off behind stable companion Riskintheground at the last meeting. John W Creasy has been raised 4lbs for his narrow Ffos Las win, but should go well off bottom weight and course winner Sherborne, the choice from two entries for Joe Tizzard, won’t be far away

The season, which started with the first Family Day back in April, ends with the Celebrating Tony Collier’s 63Yrs Dedicated Service Open Maiden NH Flat Race and, with just two of the runners having seen a racecourse, there is little form to go on. Some have point-to-point experience, however, including winners Five Bar Gate and On The Bayou

Also in the field is the Skelton-trained Soldier Reeves, who was withdrawn from a similar race at the last meeting, and Idaho Fire, the choice from two entries for Nicholls, who may be the one to be on.