Jun 03, 2026

Race Report: Wednesday 3rd June 2026

David Hucker
Racing correspondent

Morning Mayhem, who was dropping back in trip after fading close home at Fakenham last time, put up an impressive performance to take Newton Abbot’s feature £15,000 Clearance Handicap Hurdle by a wide margin.

Jumping past leader Centara at the fourth-last flight, Morning Mayhem went further and further clear to record a fourth career win, having 26 lengths to spare over Arctic Voyage who just pipped Howth by a nose for second place. Centara finished tailed off in fourth and favourite American Land, who was always struggling to go the pace, was pulled up

The betting for the opening Sun Racing Free Tickets With Sun Club Maiden Hurdle over two and three-quarter miles saw Yellow Card, who stepped up on previous efforts to finish second at Ffos Las last month, and six-time point-to-point winner Premier Fantasy head the market.

Yellow Card, sent off the 8/11 favourite, led early, but was joined by Tiger Tobin with the pair tracked by Premier Fantasy. Sean Bowen kicked Yellow Card clear jumping the fourth-last hurdle and, although a little untidy over the last two, had too much pace for Premier Fantasy with Tiger Tobin finishing a remote third.

Trainer Jenny Candlish entered two in the Edmundson Electrical Torquay Novices’ Handicap Chase and had opted to run Dunkerque, who was seeking a four-timer. Although Dunkerque was returned the even-money favourite, there was support for Doc McCoy, who had unseated Isabelle Ryder three fences from home in the race won by Dunkerque at Southwell last month.

Ryder set a good pace on Doc McCoy, but Dunkerque was alongside at the penultimate fence and, ridden by conditional jockey William Shanahan, he asserted before the last, coming away to win by 4¼ lengths, with outsider Vengeance a further 19 lengths back in third.

Dual Irish point-to-point winner Kenzo Des Bruyeres was favourite to take the Par Inn Novices’ Handicap Chase over three and a quarter miles, but was struggling some way out and could only finish fifth behind 28/1 outsider Winning Paddy, who gave West Buckland trainer Alexandra Dunn her second winner of the season from just three runners.

It’s A Breeze led narrowly turning for home, but James Davies had Winning Paddy back in front at the second-last fence and they forged clear of second-favourite Black Occ, with Yorkshire raider Isle Of Sark staying on from a long way back to be third.

After a shock result in the previous race, Miss Goldfire became the third winning favourite of the afternoon when taking the Charles Darrow Mares’ Handicap Hurdle. Ciaran O’Shea and Miss Goldfire had the others on the stretch turning out of the back straight, coming home easy winners from Queens Venture with Just A Memory in third. Just the three finished as Porter In The Park and hat-trick seeking Jena d’Oudaries were both pulled up before the second-last flight.

Market leader Westerton was another who failed to finish in the WestCountry Food Supplies Handicap Hurdle won by 6/1 shot Cogital, ridden by Harry Atkins, who beat 20/1 outsider Zambezi Fix by a length to give Glamorgan trainer Bernard Llewellyn a 1-2 in the race.

Matty’s Mate, owned by Ged Mason and Sir Alex Ferguson, headed the betting for the closing Visit Our Classic Car Show 6th June Open National Hunt Flat Race, but couldn’t match Thepassingtyphoon who provided Lambourn trainer Dominic Ffrench Davis with his first winner of the season.