May 01, 2026

Race preview: Wednesday 6th May 2026

David Hucker
Racing correspondent

After a short break, racing returns to Newton Abbot on Wednesday with the opening race, the Class 2 Kauto The King Handicap Chase due off at 1.45pm, part of ITV’s afternoon coverage.

This £25,000 event run over two miles and five furlongs was won last year by Light N Strike, then trained by Emma Lavelle, but now with Mickey Bowen. Champion trainer Dan Skelton, who finished last season with 194 winners and over £5m in prize money, has declared that his aim for the new campaign is to beat Martin Pipe’s record total of 243 achieved in 2018/19 and has entered both Etalon and Heltenham.

Another trainer with two entries is Paul Nicholls with course winner Centara and Il Ridoto, who was pulled up behind stable companion Twinjets at Ayr. Nicholls starts the new season without the services of Harry Cobden who has been appointed as first jockey to leading owner J P McManus.

The race remembers Kauto The King, who won five of his ten chases around the course. He was trained initially by Colin Tizzard and then by his son Joe who has entered Western General, a course winner over hurdles and fences.

Next up is the Racing To School Reaches 25 Years Maiden Hurdle over the same trip which has attracted 20 entries with Nicky Henderson, Nicholls and Skelton having two apiece. Exeter runner-up Bold Step, who is also entered at Ffos Las on Tuesday and Kelso on Wednesday, could be a Royal winner for Henderson and, with Skelton’s Worcester bumper winner Trigg declared at Uttoxeter on Saturday, the lightly-raced Lirone Du Seuil could be the stable’s representative.

The trip is three and a quarter miles for the No Drama This End Club Novices’ Handicap Chase in which Henderson again has two entries, but it’s Skelton’s Storminhome, still to win after ten attempts over fences, who might come out on top.

Second most valuable race of the afternoon is the Welcoming Newton Abbot Business Club Members Handicap Chase over two miles and there is not much between the ten entries on official ratings. The consistent Juggernaut, owned by the Anthony Honeyball Racing Club, is also entered in the last race of the afternoon and Wincanton winner Melton Mossy is another to look out for.

Little Venice came good at Wincanton in February and, although beaten at Taunton on her last run, would be one for the shortlist for the Par Inn Celebrating 50 Next Year Mares’ Handicap Hurdle. Huntingdon winner Best Night, owned by the David Pipe Racing Club, was well beaten at Taunton last month, but would be dropping back in trip here and the Tizzard-trained Reel Orange broke her duck when beating Northern Air over the course last month.

Nicholls has entered Rickety Bridge in the third race and the closing Sky Sports Racing Handicap Hurdle, which could see Striking A Pose seek to follow up his win here last month. Ffos Las maiden hurdle winner At The Oche has failed to add to that success in five races since, but has been knocking the door, finishing runner-up four times.