Jul 05, 2024

Race Report: Friday 5 July

Wiltshire trainer Robbie Llewellyn and jockey Charlie Price followed up their win at Stratford on Tuesday evening with another at Newton Abbot on Friday, as Feel The Pinch beat Finest View to take the Class 3 newtonabbotracing.com Handicap Hurdle, feature event of the seven-race card.

Despite being 6lbs out of the handicap, it was Melton Mossy who punters favoured, but he was to finish last, having never looked like winning at any stage. The free-running Carrigeen Kampala, seeking her fifth course win, took the field along until misjudging the third flight, quickly recovering from her fall to chase after the remaining runners.

Apart from Komedy Kicks who had been pulled up, the remainder were tightly packed turning for home, but the race was soon done and dusted as Feel The Pinch led between the last two flights to win with something in hand from Finest View, who snatched second place from Jumeirah King on the run-in.

Favourite A Definite Getaway set out to make all the running in the opening St Austell Brewery Maiden Hurdle, but he was joined and quickly passed by point-to-point winner Yellow Car after jumping the third-last flight. Despite showing his inexperience on his first run under Rules, Yellow Car stayed on strongly to beat Full Monty and A Definite Getaway, with All Night Parking running on to take fourth.

With The Onlywayiswessex a non-runner, the field for the Big Tolns Ferrnott, Big Day Out Handicap Chase was reduced to six, with dual chase winner Tonto Foley sent off the 6/4 favourite. The race went to Magistrato, whose last win came at Warwick 14 months ago, making all the running in the hands of Chris Ward to beat Kauto The King and Tonto Foley.

With the rain getting into the ground, the official going was eased to good ahead of the fourth race, the Sky Sports Racing On Sky 415 Handicap Hurdle, in which there were three non-runners. World Of Dreams was made favourite ahead of The Height Of Fame but, with Gavin Sheehan back in the saddle, The Height Of Fame took advantage of a blunder by World Of Dreams at the penultimate flight to record her sixth career win.

The William Hill Leading Racecourse Bookmaker Handicap Chase saw another easy win for Hold Your Fort who made light of his 7lb penalty, quickening away from the second-last fence to beat Doctor Foley by 15 lengths.

The closing Racing Partnership TRP Mares’ Handicap Hurdle had been divided and the first division saw an easy win for the lightly-raced Dancingontheedge, who had gone close a couple of times previously, proving too good for top-weight Stowaway Jess.

In the second division, Maroochi, who had kept on well behind Saint Bibiana over the course at the beginning of June, went off the 9/4 favourite, but she couldn’t peg back Only Fools, well supported from 11/2 into 7/2, who gave jockey Jack Tudor another winner after his double at Perth the day before.