May 10, 2025

Race report: Wednesday 7 May 2025

David Hucker
Racing correspondent

Twelve months ago, Newton Abbot’s meeting was abandoned with the course waterlogged, but it was a very different story this year as a good size crowd enjoyed the late Spring sunshine, cheering home five winning favourites on the afternoon.

Favourite backers got off to a good start when Light N Strike, trained by Emma Lavelle, took the opening Class 2 Kauto The King Handicap Chase. Bourbali set out to make all the running, but he had company at the final fence in the shape of outsider Spyglass Hill, who had been prominent from the outset, and Light N Strike, who had made steady progress under jockey Ben Jones to put in a challenge.

It was Light N Strike who asserted on the run-in to win by three lengths with Lavelle’s other runner, Hang In There, who had made mistakes, plugging on into fourth place. They were the only ones to finish as Mayhem Mya got no further than the second fence and hat-trick seeking Yes Indeed, who had been winning over shorter trips, was pulled up.

The Dan Skelton-trained Roxanne, who made a winning hurdles debut at Ayr in April, was a red-hot 2/5 favourite for the following Happy 60th Birthday John Garton Novices’ Hurdle. Three times a winner on the flat in Germany, Roxanne was sent into the lead by Kielan Woods at the third-last flight and had too much speed for Roadshow, who was making his third appearance over hurdles for Paul Nicholls and looks sure to win over the summer.

Gwennie May Jem, who ran on to good effect to win at Warwick, was an uneasy favourite for the Racing To School Reaches 250,000 Novices’ Handicap Chase, drifting throughout the morning from 8/15 to evens. Those who kept faith were to be rewarded as, taking the lead at the fourth-last fence, Gwennie May Jem confirmed the form with Warwick runner-up El Rojo Grande, winning easily by 11 lengths to give Skelton a quick double.

It fell to Sweet Caryline, backed from 9/4 into 6/4, to continue the winning run of favourites in the Antiques Fair On 17th May Mares’ Handicap Hurdle. There was also support for Asian Spice, who had shortened from 14/1 into 5/1 before easing to 7/1 late on, but it was Sweet Caryline who rewarded her backers, making all the running to beat Clear Storm, who was finishing runner-up for the second race in a row over the course, by 3½ lengths.

Gavin had given Mickey Bowen his first winner as a trainer at Ffos Las the day before and the consistent A Definite Getaway was well-supported to add another in the long-distance St Austell Brewery Handicap Chase. The run of winning favourites was to come to an end, however, as he could only finish third behind Onethreefivenotout, who jumped past pace-setter Killer Kane at the penultimate fence to score decisively.

There was a competitive-looking field of eight for the closing Come Racing On 14th May Handicap Hurdle and it was Al Sayah who came out on top to record her third win and make it five winning favourites on the afternoon, beating Chabadatika and Hillsin, who showed improvement following wind surgery on his second outing for Richard Hawker.