Jun 25, 2024

Race report: Tuesday 25 June

On the hottest raceday of the season so far, there were some sizzling performances to match out on the Newton Abbot track but, for favourite backers, it proved a tough afternoon with the writing on the wall from the very first race.

Formerly trained by Gary Moore, for whom she won a hurdle race on heavy ground at Leicester in January, Parikarma showed she can handle fast ground equally as well when springing a 25/1 surprise in the opening Racing Partnership TRP Amateur Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle for new trainers John & Rhys Flint. Ridden by her new owner Imogen Mathias, for whom this was a first win under Rules, Parikarma was held up early on, coming from last to lead approaching the final flight and put 5½ lengths between herself and 9/4 favourite Shinji.

Mill Street, sold by Godolphin after failing to win in four starts in the USA, was sent off favourite to make a winning debut over jumps for new trainer Ben Pauling in the Newtonabbotracing.com Juvenile Maiden Hurdle, It was Scottie’s Sister, the only runner to have had jumping experience, who set the pace but, approaching the final jump, the race lay between Mill Street and Golden Path.

Runner-up on her second flat start in April, Golden Path is clearly improving with experience, coming right away from the favourite to win comfortably and this daughter of Derby winner Golden Horn could follow up in a similar race in the near future.

Course winner Huelgoat and Ramensky, a 10-length winner at Hereford in May, dominated the betting for the Chris Matthews And His Amigos Novices’ Hurdle. Huelgoat had stable companion Eileen’s Milan well behind when he won three weeks ago, but it was a different story this time as, after Huelgoat had fallen when well clear at the fourth flight, Eileen’s Milan was the one to lay down a challenge to Ramensky, coming from off the pace to get to within half a length on the run-in.

Former football manager Harry Redknapp would have been in good spirits tuning in to England’s Euros encounter later in the evening after his lightly-raced Icare Grandchamp, trained by Gary & Josh Moore, got off the mark at the 10th attempt in the William Hill Leading Racecourse Bookmaker Handicap Chase, wearing down Begin The Luck close to the line.

With first and second favourites Gorcombe Moonshine and Queen Of Steel out of contention, it was 11/1 shot Konigin Isabella and 25/1 outsider No More Bolero who fought out the finish of the Lisa Tudor Happy 60th Birthday Today Novices’ Limited Handicap Hurdle with the former finding a second wind to get back up and snatch the verdict by a neck.

It fell to Townhill, the most tipped horse in the race, to break the run of losing favourites in the Tilly And Seth Wedding Party Handicap Hurdle over three and a quarter miles and he duly obliged, making all the running under Ben Sutton to win for the third time from four starts and see off Sea The Clouds and Mr Yeats on the run-in.

Townhill was to provide only temporary respite for favourite backers, however, as market leader Robinsville, like all the runners in the closing St Austell Brewery Novices’ Handicap Chase, was trounced by Hold Your Fort who came home 23 lengths in front of outsider Emberscombe.