Aug 31, 2023
Racing Preview - Saturday 2 September
Saturday sees the first of three meetings at Newton Abbot in September and the six-race card, with prize money of nearly £86,000 on offer, is showcased by two valuable Class 2 events.
On known form, the opening Class 3 Talk Tidy Marketing Novices’ Hurdle, due off at 2.32pm, looks a match between Father Of Jazz and Carrigeen Kampala.
Owned by The Gredley Family, Father Of Jazz has won all three of his starts since moving from Dan Skelton’s stable to James Owen in Newmarket and, on official ratings, is the one to beat. Carrigeen Kampala has won two of her three races this season, but was brushed aside by odds-on favourite Titanium Moon at Stratford last time.
Time Flies By, making his chasing debut after two wins over hurdles, tops the weights in the following Class 3 Racing Partnership Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase over two miles and five furlongs. Valentino Dancer, the choice from two entries for Fergal O’Brien, was caught close home on his second run over fences at the last meeting and may have to settle for the runner-up spot again.
It’s the same trip for the William Hill Leading Racecourse Bookmaker Handicap Chase in which O’Brien saddles Chief Black Robe, who was bidding for a five-timer when fourth in Market Rasen’s highly-competitive Unibet Summer Plate won by Born Famous. All three who finished in front of him have come out and won since, so the form looks strong and this will be an easier task.
Course winner Mr Mafia was withdrawn from a race at Worcester on Tuesday because of softening ground, but should appreciate this firmer surface and can chase Chief Black Robe home.
The first of the Class 2 contests is the Neil Evans Memorial Handicap Hurdle and, whilst he may be 12 years-old, Caius Marcius showed over the course in July that he still retains plenty of ability and can overcome a 6lb rise in the weights to score again.
Trainer Milton Harris saddles both his entries, with Harry Cobden again riding dual course winner Songo, but his Pyramid Place is a six-time winner over jumps and could come out the better of the two. Sebastopol returns to hurdling after a chasing campaign which included a win over subsequent Cheltenham Festival winner Stage Star at Newbury in November.
Stepney Causeway looks to follow-up his course win last time in the richest race of the day, the £22,500 Happy Birthday Debbie Moss Handicap Chase. Despite whipping round at the start, Stepney Causeway finished strongly to beat Valentino Dancer by a neck and his run earlier on will give a clue as to the strength of that form.
Both Romanor and Kauto The King run in this race in preference to an earlier contest, but top-weight El Borracho may be the one to beat, with Donald McCain’s Blueberry Wine, who runs in the famous Red Rum colours, also making the trip from Cheshire for the race.
The largest field of the day lines up for the closing Silver Blaze Wessex Cup Handicap Hurdle in which Sassified is seeking a course hat-trick, although he is worse off at the weights with Escobedo compared to their encounter in June. David Pipe runs both his entries, with Lady Reset topping the weights, and Karannelle, who unseated Sean Bowen early on at Stratford, had previously shown promise when third at the last meeting.
Tickets for Saturday’s racing at Newton Abbot Racecourse are on sale now at just £12 for Course Enclosure or £16 for Paddock Enclosure if booked before 11.59pm on Friday (or £18 on the gate on the day).
Tickets for both enclosures will be available on the gate on Saturday.
Please note, traffic is expected to be heavy on Saturday so please leave extra time for your journey.
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