Oct 01, 2023
Racing Preview - Monday 2 October
It’s the penultimate meeting of the Newton Abbot 2023 season and champion trainer Paul Nicholls looks primed to land the feature Aubrey Loze Memorial Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase with Iceo, his only runner of the afternoon.
Previously a conditions race over a distance of two miles and five furlongs, this year’s contest will be a handicap run over the shorter trip of two miles with a prize fund of £14,650. On the mark at the last meeting with Outlaw Peter, Nicholls is stepping up a gear as the jumps campaign gets into full swing and Iceo, three times a winner over hurdles, including Sandown’s Betfair Imperial Cup, can make a winning chasing debut.
Having taken the last two runnings of the race with Bravemansgame in 2021 and Pic D’Orhy last year, Nicholls knows just what is needed to be successful and Iceo can add to his record against two rivals also making their chasing debuts. Timeforatune won four times when trained by Nicholls and makes his debut for new trainer Evan Williams today and Mount Tempest, who was an easy hurdles winner on soft ground at Warwick in May, returns following wind surgery.
Warwickshire trainer Olly Murphy is another to increase his flow of runners, having made six entries over the afternoon, and saddles Foxey, who is having his second run for the stable, in the Weatherbys Stallion Book Conditional Jockeys’ Selling Handicap Hurdle.
David Pipe runs Kalma from his two entries, but she is difficult to fancy having been pulled up in both her runs since wind surgery and, in a tricky contest, it may pay to side with Systemic, trained by Gary Moore, a Plumpton winner last year.
Murphy’s Colonel Whizz was beaten 11 lengths by Denburn on his racecourse debut at Market Rasen and now goes hurdling for the first time in the Paul Ferguson’s Jumpers To Follow Novices’ Hurdle. Ridden by leading jockey Sean Bowen, who notched a treble at Market Rasen on Saturday, he looks the one to beat, although stable companion Damarta comes into the race with more experience.
Dan Skelton saddles two of his three entries with brother Harry on Lone Soldier looking to have a better chance than Vinnie Sparkles and dual bumper winner Roger Pol is another making his hurdles debut.
Jet Plane has been raised 5lbs for his success at Ludlow in May, but may still be up to winning the Class 3 Weatherbys Handicap Chase over three and a quarter miles. Investment Manager makes his seventh appearance of the summer at the course, but both his wins were on good ground, rather than the soft going prevailing today.
Ben Lilly looks to follow up his win over Honey I’m Good in the Weatherbys nhstallions.co.uk Novices’ Handicap Hurdle over an extended three and a quarter miles and should confirm the form with fourth-placed Astroman who is 4lbs better off at the weights this time.
Ten runners line up for an open-looking Par Inn Cornwall Handicap Hurdle in which Rock The House, three times a winner this summer, makes his debut for trainer Ben Lund. He has, inevitably, risen in the weights as a result and Nicky Martin’s consistent Just Loose Change is preferred.
Baby Sham is another returning after wind surgery in the weatherbysshop.co.uk Mares’ Novices’ Handicap Hurdle, but one to note is Lady Berlais who has her first run for Dan Skelton and can be expected to show improvement on her form so far.
Tickets for Monday’s fixture are on sale now – book before 11.59pm on Sunday 1 October to save £2pp on Paddock tickets.
Tickets for both enclosures will also be available on the gate on the day, at full price.
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