Jul 16, 2022

Racing Preview - Sunday 17 July 2022

Unless you have a ticket, there will be no entry on the gate at Newton Abbot on Sunday as the meeting, which features the Class 3 Racing Partnership Novices’ Chase, sold out at the beginning of the week.

With the maiden, Crisis Of Identity, looking out of his depth, the feature race should lie with the top three, two of which are trained by Paul Nicholls. Stable jockey Harry Cobden is on Skatman, a winner here in June when he finished alone after Lakota Warrior fell at the penultimate fence, although he looked to be going the better at the time and would, probably, have won in any event.

That was over the same three and a quarter mile trip as he faces on Sunday, whereas stable companion Hell Red ran over two miles last time out and the nearest distance he has tackled to this was when finishing down the field in a Taunton hurdle race over three miles back in December.

Balkardy, who is chasing a four-timer, had multiple entries over the weekend, so trainer Evan Williams must think this represents his best chance but, whilst Balkardy is improving, he has something to find on official ratings to beat the Nicholls pair.

On Monday, the British Horseracing Authority said it was monitoring the weather situation in the light of a Met Office amber warning for “exceptionally high temperatures” in England and Wales by the weekend and, on Thursday, announced that Stratford-on-Avon’s Sunday meeting would be brought forward by two hours.

However, the two meetings at Redcar and Newton Abbot would go ahead as planned, meaning the seven-race card will get underway at 1.45pm with the Follow@willhillracing On Twitter Novices’ Handicap Hurdle.

Appreciate’s winning run came to an end when he was beaten by Eagle’s Realm in a conditional jockeys’ race at Stratford last Sunday, but he is a course and distance winner and runs from the same official rating of 101, so looks the one to beat, with top-weight Social City, five times a winner on the flat, but lightly raced over jumps, the likely danger.

Wincanton winner Rectory Oak returns after a break of 49 days and looks fairly treated on a mark of 92 in the In Memory Of Pat And Maurice Vinicombe Handicap Chase, although does need to step up on his two runs in May. Top-weight Dindin has been busy this season and makes his eighth appearance here and Arizona Glory, last of six behind Imperial Joe over course and distance in May, could be worth another chance.

Dual course winner My Lady Grey has been raised just 1lb for her neck win over Belle Jour last month and looks the one to beat in the David Incles 80th Birthday Mares’ Handicap Chase. She might have been fortunate on her last run, however, as leader Kennack Bay came down at the penultimate fence, but she should see off Cresswell Queen, a winner on her first appearance for trainer Debra Hamer at Ffos Las, but raised 10lbs as a result.

Twice a winner on the flat, Nibras Gold got off the mark at the second time of asking over hurdles at Worcester for trainer David Pipe and can follow up in the Mason Arms Novices’ Hurdle at the expense of Gaulois, who denied Jean Genie by a head here in May.

The second-most valuable race on the card is the Class 3 newtonabbotracing.com Juvenile Hurdle and it sees a rematch between Mucuna,and Free Chakarte. There was just a head between them here at the beginning of the month and, although Free Chakarte is better off at the weights, Mucuna won again at Stratford last Sunday and is clearly thriving right now.

Hill Station was in the lead and going like the winner on his debut over course and distance last month, only to come down at the penultimate flight, and adds further interest to a fascinating contest.

Oxwich Bay is 5lbs better off over hurdles than fences and by-passes an engagement at Stratford for the closing Racing Partnership Handicap Hurdle in which ex-French top-weight Defi D’Oudairies has his first run over hurdles after two chase starts for David Pipe and could be well-treated from a mark of 107.

A reminder that the fixture on Sunday 17 July 2022 is completely SOLD OUT with no further tickets available on the gate.

Tickets for all other horseracing fixtures at Newton Abbot Racecourse are on sale now – Book Now