May 06, 2025

Race preview: Wednesday 7 May 2025

David Hucker
Racing correspondent

After a short break, racing returns to Newton Abbot on Wednesday with its opening race, the Class 2 Kauto The King Handicap Chase, shown live on ITV4.

Joe Tizzard, who trained the now-retired Kauto The King, will be keen to win this race and he has chosen Bourbali from his two entries. Dan Skelton, who was pipped to the trainers title by Willie Mullins for the second time last month, also had two entries and runs Heltenham who carried a big weight into second spot here in April before running out an easy winner at Perth.

Mayhem Mya, trained at Ashburton by Chris Honour, looks handily weighted on 10-3 and another to consider in what is a competitive contest is hat-tick seeking Yes Indeed who will again be ridden by champion jockey Sean Bowen.

Ten of the eighteen entries have stood the ground in the following Happy 60th Birthday John Garton Novices’ Hurdle and this could go to the Skelton-trained Roxanne, who made a winning debut at Ayr in April, having scored three times on the flat in Germany. Roadshow, who had wind surgery between leaving Andre Fabre in France and making his debut over hurdles for Paul Nicholls, looks the danger.

Gwennie May Jem looked to have a bit of work to do turning into the straight at Warwick, but ran on to good effect to win and can confirm the form with El Rojo Grande in the Racing To School Reaches 250,000 Novices’ Handicap Chase to give Skelton another winner.

Eight line up for the Antiques Fair On 17th May Mares’ Handicap Hurdle in which Asian Spice would be a popular local winner for Buckfastleigh trainer Jimmy Frost. Mavis Pike runs here instead of at Warwick on Monday, but the one they all have to beat is Clear Storm, who was having her first run for trainer Neil Mulholland when runner-up to John Betjeman in heavy ground at the last meeting.

At three and a quarter miles, the St Austell Brewery Handicap Chase is the longest race of the afternoon and should be just right for the consistent A Definite Getaway, although Back On The Lash, part-owned by Harry Redknapp, looks well-weighted on his best form and drops in class.

There is a competitive-looking field for the closing Come Racing On 14th May Handicap Hurdle in which the lightly-raced Al Sayah, another running here in preference to Warwick on Monday, is an interesting contender. Course specialist Clearance needs to bounce back to his old form and the much-travelled Hillsin makes his debut for Richard Hawker, having won three races when trained by Alan Jones.