Jun 02, 2025

Race preview: Wednesday 4 June 2025

David Hucker
Racing correspondent

Wednesday sees the first of three meetings at Newton Abbot in June with the Class 3 Clearance Handicap Hurdle over two miles and a furlong continuing the run of races named after horses that have chalked up multiple wins over the course.

Six of Clearance’s seven hurdle wins have come at Newton Abbot, the last of which was in this race a year ago when he won from a 9lb higher mark. He showed enough when finishing fourth to Al Sayah over the course to suggest that his winning days might not be over, but will find younger rivals such as American Land and Get The Value, both course winners, tough nuts to crack.

Knights Affair, twice a winner on the flat, before making a successful debut over hurdles at Huntingdon, can follow up in the opening Racing Partnership Novices’ Hurdle which gets the meeting underway at 2.05pm. His trainer Jamie Snowden has made a good start to the season as he looks to match his best-over total of 62 achieved in 2024/5.

Chief Black Robe, a winner of four chases, runs here in preference to Warwick’s evening meeting, but has changed stables and has to overcome a 446-day absence. Keel Strand has his first run since wind surgery and should improve on his two hurdles starts to-date.

The trip is three and a quarter miles for the Join Us On Ladies’ Night Novices’ Handicap Chase in which Illogical Logic, who was clear and looking like winning before falling at the penultimate fence at the last meeting, catches the eye. The race was won by Ryder’s Rock, who beat Radharc Na Slaine with Tellairsue an earlier faller and, whilst they both re-oppose here, Illogical Logic, who had another entry on the card as well as at Warwick, should come out on top this time.

Six of the eight entries have been declared for the Visit The Wellbeing Show Novices’ Handicap Chase including Culligran, who was sent off favourite on her chasing debut at Ffos Las, and Pooroldmackley, a winner on heavy ground here in April. The Dream Goes On has been disappointing in her last two races, falling at Market Rasen and then being pulled up at Hereford but, if she gets her act together, could be the one to beat.

The newtonabbotracing.com Mares’ Handicap Hurdle looks an open affair. Portobello Girl has been raised 3lbs for her narrow Stratford win, whilst the form of Chabadatika’s run behind Al Sayah was boosted when the winner scored again at the last meeting and she could go one better here.

Course winner Karanelle carries top weight in the Book Our Winning Post Restaurant Handicap Hurdle, but is difficult to catch right, having managed only five successes in 48 starts, John Betjeman will find conditions very different than when winning in heavy ground here in April, but has some form in the book unlike many of the others.

Of the seven runners in the closing Visit Our Classic Car Show Open National Hunt Flat Race, only Alba Crus has racecourse experience. He showed promise when fifth at Uttoxeter which should give him an edge over Usyk, the choice from two entries for Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies.