Oct 19, 2023
Racing Preview - Saturday 21 October
Saturday sees the last meeting of Newton Abbot’s 2023 season and it could prove a good afternoon for champion trainer Paul Nicholls who has a host of live chances.
Nicholls runs Complete Unknown, twice a winner over fences last season, in the feature £22,500 Talk Tidy Marketing Intermediate Chase run over a distance of two miles and five furlongs. On official ratings, he should have the beating of Ballygrifincottage who, after winning at Haydock Park, rather lost his way, being pulled up on his last two starts. He was reported as having bled from the nose at Wetherby and ran over hurdles next time, also failing to complete the course, but returns after wind surgery here.
Making up the field of three is Might I, whom trainer Harry Fry has decided to run in this race rather than the opening contest and, although making his chasing debut, is favoured by the weights and could be a real threat to the other two.
The seven-race card gets underway at 1.05pm.with the Class 3 Paul And Shauna’s Silver Wedding Celebration Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase and Nicholls runs Iceo, who made a winning start to his chasing career over the course earlier this month. He had to work to overcome Mount Tempest, who was meeting him on unfavourable terms, but ran out a comfortable winner in the end and can follow up by beating his two rivals.
Ten have been declared for the British Stallion Studs EBF “National Hunt” Novices’ Hurdle (Qualifier) and Nicholls saddles Uttoxeter bumper winner Farnoge who looks the one to beat. Dan Skelton runs debutant Spinnaker Blue from his two entries and Joe Tizzard has chosen Hour Star, who didn’t follow up on his promising Exeter debut next time, from his pair.
Investment Manager has won two of his seven races at the course over the summer and will carry top weight of 12-2 in the Racing Partnership Novices’ Handicap Chase over three and a quarter miles. Despite being beaten last time, the handicapper has raised him 2lbs and it may pay to go to the bottom of the handicap where Back Yourself, a winner of a hurdle race at Ffos Las in May, makes his debut for trainer David Pipe.
Second most valuable race of the afternoon is the Newton Abbot Racecourse On Facebook Handicap Hurdle over an extended three and a quarter miles and the two highest-rated horses, Itchy Feet and West To The Bridge, have both been declared. Mr Yeats was favourite when finishing third twelve months ago and Rose Of Arcadia is returning to hurdles after a spell of chasing which saw her record two wins.
In a tight race, West To The Bridge, who has had a run already this month, is just preferred.
Wonderful Eagle, who loves soft ground, can make it three course wins in a row on his handicap debut in the Joe Atkinson Celebrating Happy Retirement Day Handicap Hurdle. The Nicholls-trained Taunton winner Individualiste returns after a 597-day absence and Jeremy Scott runs Little Else, another Taunton winner, from his two entries.
Walks Like The Man, who was left in the lead at the last fence when winning an Irish point-to-point, and El Granjero, who got up close home to win a similar race, both bring proven form into the closing William Hill Betting TV Open National Hunt Flat Race. The market will give a good guide to the chance of French-bred Hikari Pompadour Aa who makes his racecourse debut for Nicholls in the colours of J P McManus.
Tickets for Saturday’s Season Opener are on sale now – book before midnight on Friday to save £2 on Paddock Admission. Tickets for both enclosures will be available on the gate on Saturday at full price.
Please note, traffic is expected to be very heavy on Saturday so please allow extra time for your journey.
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