Apr 13, 2025

Race report: Thursday 10 April 2025

David Hucker
Racing correspondent

It may have had only three runners, but the feature race of Newton Abbot’s 2025 seasonal opener saw an impressive performance by Jaramillo, the least experienced horse in the field.

Top-weight Lord Baddesley cut out much of the running in the £15,000 Weatherbys Scientific Handicap Chase over two miles and five furlongs, but he was passed by Jaramillo turning for home who fairly sprinted clear in the familiar colours of Owners Group to win in only his third steeplechase. Investment Manager, who was never travelling well, passed the tiring Lord Baddesley to snatch second place, but there was only one horse in it once jockey James Bowen pressed the button.

Favourite backers got off to the best possible start when Yes Indeed followed up his Stratford win for trainer Martin Keighley and jockey Sean Bowen in the opening Weatherbys nhstallions.co.uk Handicap Chase. Sent off at 8/13, he tracked the leader Dexter until after the third-last fence before easing to the front and going away in the home straight to win by nine lengths with Famoso, who never got into contention, getting up for second place.

There was another winning favourite in the Welcome Back To Newton Abbot Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle when Iris Des Issards, trained by Kayley Woollacott, proved too good for Sevenofus. Elizabeth Gale had taken up the running on Sevenofus with more than a circuit to go and was still in front approaching the final flight where Iris Des Issards, brought with a well-timed run by Callum Pritchard, came to challenge. They jumped the flight together, but Iris Des Issards went away on the run-in to defy top weight and record his first win.

Jokers ‘n’ Clowns and Northern Symphonie came to the final flight together in the newtonabbotracing.com Mares’ Maiden Hurdle, with favourite Mighty Fleur behind in third and looking held. Northern Symphonie, who was backed from 10/1 to 15/2, was badly hampered in her last run at Exeter and, making the better jump, won with a bit in hand at the end.

The betting suggested that the longest race of the afternoon, the weatherbysshop.co.uk Handicap Hurdle over an extended three and a quarter miles, would lie between two in-form horses, Coconut Twist and Musique De Fee who headed the market. Punters got it spot on as Coconut Twist, sent off the 9/5 favourite, defied a 6lb rise in the weights for his Exeter win last month to deny hat-trick seeking Musique De Fee, the two finishing 18 lengths clear of the rest.

There was not much form to go on in the closing Newton Abbot Open Maiden National Hunt Flat Race, but Call Me Legend had been placed in a point-to-point and he proved too good for Border Gem, who had been backed from 6/1 to 3/1, winning by half a length.