Jun 24, 2025

Race report: Tuesday 24 June 2025

David Hucker
Racing correspondent

Basking in the summer sunshine, the usual enthusiastic Newton Abbot crowd were treated to some close finishes at the ever-popular Ladies Evening, topped by a riding masterclass from champion jockey Sean Bowen.

Privilege, who ran well behind Stinginhisstep over course and distance at the end of May, was a solid favourite to win the Tammy Whitbread 50th Birthday Celebration Novices’ Limited Handicap Hurdle. He was always at the head of affairs and, as his rivals dropped away one-by-one, just had Stiletto, Bowen’s only ride of the evening, to contend with.

Stiletto, without a win in 30 starts, was sent off favourite when finishing a long way behind Byzantium at Warwick on his first run for trainer Sophie Leech, but Bowen played his cards late here, joining Privilege at the final flight and gradually wearing him down on the run-in.

There was drama aplenty in the opening Proper Job Amateur Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle, starting with Clearance, who repeated his antics of the last meeting and refused to line up. Two more fell by the wayside when Adjali slipped up turning into the back straight, bringing down Roadshow, leaving just five still in the contest.

Four of them, however, fought out an exciting finish with course winner Feel The Pinch, backed from 7/1 to 7/2, getting the verdict by a head over Juggernaut, with Colonel Lesley a neck away in third. Fourth home was Thahab Ifraj who, having made the running, couldn’t quite hold on to give Jack Andrews a win on his last ride as an amateur.

The first race for three-year-olds at the course this season saw eight line up for the Celebrate Racing Staff Week Juvenile Maiden Hurdle with Return With Gold, twice a winner on the flat, but tailed off on his hurdles debut at Hexham, sent off favourite. He made a lot of the running, but had no answer when challenged by two newcomers with Silk And Steel, who had been backed from 22/1 to 12/1, collaring Blue Tempus close home to win by 1½ lengths.

A course winner over fences,Time To Bite set a good pace in the Happy 80th Birthday June O’Dwyer Novices’ Hurdle, but the hot 4/9 favourite Byzantium jumped past him at the penultimate hurdle to follow up his Warwick win eased down by 25 lengths.

Limerick Leader, who was beaten a neck by Culligran over course and distance at the beginning of the month, was all the rage in the market for the St. Austell Brewery Handicap Chase. Punters got it spot on as James Bowen sent Limerick Leader clear turning for home and held the late challenge of top-weight Great d’Ange.

Keel Strand, well-supported when beating Knights Affair over the course last time, was again sent off favourite in the EBCS Leisure Giddy Up Handicap Hurdle. He duly obliged, seeing off all challengers to bring up a double on the evening for trainer Paul Nicholls.

Lucky Rose was another to record her first career win when taking the closing Korev Handicap Chase, beating Testflight and favourite Illogical Logic. Top-weight Illogical Logic had led into the home straight, but Lucky Rose got to the front jumping the last, with Testflight running on to snatch second place close home.