Jul 24, 2022

Racing Preview - Monday 25 July 2022

State Crown, a winner over the course at the beginning of the month, can overcome a 3lb rise in the weights to land Newton Abbot’s feature race, the Class 3 Follow @attheraces On Twitter Handicap Hurdle over an extended two and a quarter miles, in the hands of Isabel Williams.

Mascat, an easy winner of an amateur riders’ race here last month, carries joint top weight of 12-0 with Get Back Get Back, who is consistent, but hasn’t won since September 2020, and Bucko’s Boy, the choice from two entries for Lambourn trainer Jamie Snowden, is another who won’t be far away.

San Giovanni made all the running to beat market leader Biowavego at Worcester last month and sets the standard in the opening Racing Partnership Novices’ Hurdle, due off at 1.50pm. That win was over two and a half miles, but he wasn’t stopping at the end and Monday’s trip of one and a half furlongs longer shouldn’t be a problem.

Huelgoat came back from a 160-day break to be beaten less than a length by Little Jessture here at the beginning of the month and, receiving 7lbs from San Giovanni, should make a race it. Completing the trio is Sorellina Royale, who makes her hurdling debut, but has something to find against the other two on what she has shown so far.

The longest race of the afternoon is the newtonabbotracing.com Handicap Chase over three and a quarter miles in which Balkardy, runner-up to Hell Red at the last meeting, aims to go one better. He looked well beaten that day, but staged a rally on the run-in to close the gap at the line.

Jony Max has been raised 6lbs for his course win over Port O’Clock at the start of the month, having previously been beaten by another of today’s runners, Lord Bryan, who he meets on the same terms. Lord Bryan has since been pulled up at Worcester, with his trainer Peter Bowen unable to offer any explanation for his poor performance.

Nelsons Rock is another course winner, but was beaten some way out last time, finishing 34 lengths behind Jony Max, and runs from the same mark on Monday, meaning he has a lot to do at the weights to close the gap.

Clearance, who was an impressive winner over the course in June, but failed to fire behind State Crown a month later, looks to have a good chance of getting back on the winning trail in the McGuinness Dart Family Handicap Hurdle at the expense of Warwick winner Eltham Valley, who disappointed next time.

Tristan Durrell, who is attached to the successful Dan Skelton stable, has turned professional this season and rides top-weight One For Billy in the Mark Roscoe Taylor Happy 60th Handicap Chase over two miles and five furlongs. He was beaten off today’s mark of 122 by David Pipe’s Al Roc at Market Rasen last time out and may find it hard to concede 20lbs to Dindin, also trained by Pipe, who had a race at his mercy when falling at the final fence at the last meeting.

The consistent Ragamuffin won a hurdle race over the course eleven months ago, but is 20lbs higher in the handicap now, and Coal Stock, who ran up a hat-trick for Colin and Joe Tizard earlier this year, has changed stables and has his first run for Syd Hosie.

Point-to-point winners The Galahad Kidd and Dame De Fortune could fight out the closing Talk Tidy Marketing Open Maiden National Hunt Flat Race, in which. Merrijig is an interesting newcomer for Newmarket trainer John Berry.

Tickets for Monday’s horseracing fixture at Newton Abbot Racecourse are on sale now – Book Today. Tickets will also be available on the gate on the day.

As previously advertised, unfortunately there will be no big screen TV at Monday’s fixture. However, a great view of the course can still be enjoyed from the grandstands.