May 27, 2026

Race Report: Wednesday 27th May 2026

David Hucker
Racing correspondent

Rickety Bridge, trained by Paul Nicholls and ridden by Freddie Gingell, followed up his course win earlier this month when beating more experienced rivals to land the £15,000 Hugh Michelmore Memorial Handicap Chase, feature race of Newton Abbot’s Family Day.

Time To Bite, who was bidding for a fourth course win, set out to make all the running over the three and a quarter mile trip and, although he looked to be going best of all turning into the home straight, was challenged by Rickety Bridge between the last two fences. Racing off a career-high rating, Time To Bite could find no more and Rickety Bridge went on to jump the final fence clear with Snipe snatching second place near the finish.

Lady Kara opened up clear favourite for the Stock Exe Mares’ ‘National Hunt’ Novices’ Hurdle over an extended two miles, but was joined in the betting by Stratford bumper winner Babs, the two going off 2/1 joint favourites. Never out of the first four in nine races, Lady Kara broke her duck at Hereford last time and, despite carrying a 7lb penalty for that win, added to her tally when beating Babs by ¾ length.

Making all the running until approaching the penultimate jump, Lady Kara looked beaten when Babs hit the front, but the two were level again at the final flight and, despite flattening the hurdle, Lady Kara fought back under Charlie Hammond to regain the lead close home.

With 20 winners on the board already, reigning champion trainer Dan Skelton is again setting the pace in 2026/27 and he saddled Thickthorn Tom, runner-up to Lunar Ocean at Fontwell Park last time, in the Totnes and Bridgetown Races Company Ltd Novices’ Handicap Chase over two miles and five furlongs. The winner was given an enterprising ride that day and Thickthorn Tom, who didn’t have much room when challenging, raced off the same handicap mark here.

Owned by twins Kate Fisher and Sally Hall, who also own Salkadan, Skelton’s first-ever winner on the flat, Thickthorn Tom has made steady progress through his career and seems to be relishing better ground and the switch to chasing. Taking over from leader Senor Diaz on the home turn, Thickthorn Tom breezed into a clear lead, but was eased down by Harry Skelton on the run-in and only had a neck to spare over Georges Street at the line.

Gingell was hoping to make it a double on course winner Reel Orange in the Chris Wills Memorial Novices’ Limited Handicap Hurdle, but the top-weight weakened on the run-in, finishing fourth behind Makinbecon who took advantage of a mistake by Saucats at the penultimate flight to prevail by half a length and give Carmarthenshire trainer Barry John Murphy his second career winner.

The Mrs. Pamela Ann Dobbs Birthday Celebration Handicap Hurdle looked to lie between Ellerton, Byzantium and American Sniper, who were clear of the other two runners in the betting. It was 9/4 shot American Sniper who came out best of the trio, making all the running under conditional jockey Rian Corcoran to beat Ellerton, who couldn’t land a blow, by 13 lengths.

With Clotilda and Sea Invasion, who had run at Plumpton the evening before, both absentees, just three contested the closing Racing Foundation Supports Autism In Racing Handicap Hurdle. The Skelton-trained odds-on favourite Supreme Yeats had been raised 6lbs for his narrow course and distance earlier this month, but he scored again, collaring long-time leader Belgarum on the run-in.