Aug 23, 2024

Race Report - Thursday 22 August 2024

The journey back to north Yorkshire will have seemed a lot shorter for the connections of Fringill Dike after the Jed O’Keeffe-trained runner had landed the £25,000 Newton Abbot Handicap Chase, highlight of the south Devon course’s seven-race card.

There was a shock for favourite backers when red-hot favourite Matterhorn, looking to land his fifth win in a row for trainer Paul Nicholls, made a bad mistake at the third fence before being pulled up by Nico de Boinville after the ninth. This left the way clear for Fringill Dike, who had finished last in Market Rasen’s Summer Hurdle, but had run consistently over fences before that, to stroll home from Grey Diamond.

Three horses went off as 3/1 co-favourites in the opening Book Our Winning Post Restaurant Maiden Hurdle and two of them fought out the finish. It could have been all three had Fourtowns not fallen at the penultimate flight, leaving ex-Irish runner Sirekofff, making his debut for David Pipe, and Tribal Glory to battle it out.

Jack Tudor always had Sirekoff in the front two and they held the late challenge of Tribal Glory, who was looking to add to his bumper and point-to-point wins, by three-quarters of a length on the run-in.

He’llstopatthetop was backed from 6/1 to 9/2 to just shade favouritism in the following Happy Birthday Jo Handicap Chase over three and a quarter miles, although there was also support for William Ewart,and for Caitlin’s Court, one of three rides on the day for Bryony Frost.

Of the three, it was William Ewart who came closest to winning but, after being prominent from the start, he couldn’t live with 80/1 shot Great d’Ange, last of four over hurdles at Les Landes in Jersey on his latest start, who went clear from the fourth-last fence under amateur jockey Martin McIntrye.

The Visit Our Antiques And Collectables Fair Handicap Hurdle over two and a quarter miles had attracted four course and distance winners and it was Sergeant, making his debut for Anthony Charlton, who added to his record, building on his good Worcester run last time out.

Quickening clear between the last two flights in the hands of Sean Bowen, Sergeant was just too good for favourite Obsessedwithyou and six-time course winner Clearance, who may have found his latest hike in the weights too much.

Melton Mossy was beaten a long way by Zhang Fei over the course last month, but got his season back on track when taking the 15-runner Keely Hodgkinson For Sports Personality Handicap Hurdle by a neck from Colonel Lesley. Jumping the final flight together, it was Melton Mossy and Isabel Williams who found the better turn of foot on the run to the line.

Glynn was given a positive ride by Sam Twiston-Davies to beat Kauto The King and Begin The Luck in the newtonabbotracing.com Handicap Chase before bottom-weight Via Dante made it a double on the afternoon for David Pipe and Jack Tudor when taking the closing William Hill Leading Racecourse Bookmaker Handicap Hurdle by six lengths from Rubys Reward.