Apr 15, 2026

Race report: Tuesday 14 April 2026

David Hucker
Racing correspondent

Punters found it tough going at Newton Abbot’s Family Fun Day with just one favourite obliging on an afternoon that threw up some surprise results.

Onefournine and Kaydence dominated the betting for the opening St. Austell Brewery Mares’ Maiden Hurdle run over a trip of two miles, five and a half furlongs and they finished in market order with 6/4 favourite Onefournine coming out on top. Taking the lead at the penultimate flight, she finished well clear of her main rival and provided trainers Jonjo & A J O’Neill with a quick double after Mt Fugi Park had landed the opener at Market Rasen an hour earlier.
Dulverton trainer Jeremy Scott saddled No Panic in the following Newton Abbot Novices’ Limited Handicap Hurdle over the same trip in preference to a later race and, despite carrying top weight of 11-12, punters sent him off favourite ahead of Bredin Hill Dart and Masonbrook Meadow.

None of the three were to finish, however, with the race going to 16/1 shot Jetty May, who fought off the challenge of Green Asset over the last two flights to win by a length. The winner had finished last on her previous run at Taunton on her return after wind surgery but, in a race where only four of the nine runners completed, she showed great resolution in the hands of Liam Harrison to score for trainer Paul Nicholls.

Just three set out for the first steeplechase of the afternoon, the Thatchers Handicap Chase over two miles, with the market headed by Siam Park, who was just touched off at Taunton last time. Warwick winner Irish Chorus, with only four runs over fences under his belt, was the least experienced of the three but, with Siam Park falling, he easily beat his remaining rival despite untidy jumps at the last two fences.

Striking A Pose and Freddie Gingell made all the running to take the longest race of the afternoon, the Tribute Handicap Hurdle over an extended three and a quarter miles, his first success since winning a three-runner race at Warwick eleven months ago. He had 2½ lengths in hand of favourite Dearkeithandkaty, who was finishing runner-up for the third time in a row since scoring at Musselburgh at the beginning of February.

Sheldon, who was runner-up at Newbury last month, went one better in the Class 3 Visit Kauto The King 6th May Handicap Chase, beating the Nicholls-trained Clotilda to record his fifth win over fences. Three had jumped the second-last fence together but, with Tapley dropping away, it left two to fight out the finish and, despite getting in close to the final fence, Sheldon stayed on the stronger to win going away.

There was not much form to go on in the closing Newton Abbot Open Maiden National Hunt Flat Race, but Irish point-to-point winner Taranis Dubh was a clear favourite ahead of €105,000 newcomer Duhallow Storm and Quickkick, who had the benefit of experience and was backed from 9/2 to 7/2. Experience told as Quickkick opened his account at the third time of asking, asserting close home for owners Brocade Racing and Minehead trainers Philip Hobbs & Johnson White.