Aug 21, 2023
Racing Preview - Tuesday 22 August 2023
As the only afternoon fixture in Great Britain and Ireland, Newton Abbot has the racing stage to itself on Tuesday with a six-race card that gets underway at 2.30pm, opening with the feature Class 3 newtonabbotracing.com Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase over two miles.
Although the race has attracted four runners, it should concern the top two who share the same official rating with Stepney Causeway, last of three behind Guinness Affair here last month, just preferred. The winner has gone on to score again at Market Rasen from a 4lb higher rating and Stepney Causeway, a useful hurdler when trained by Dan Skelton, can beat Valentino Dancer, who is having his second start over fences.
With 13 runners, there is a more competitive field for the following Joe And Sophie Finally Got Married Mares’ Handicap Hurdle in which the consistent Vision Of Hope and Uttoxeter winner Saddlers Quest are two for the shortlist.
However, it’s top-weight Karannelle, having her first run after wind surgery, who catches the eye, being 7lbs better off with Vision Of Hope for their meeting at Market Rasen in June.
There is another good field for the Heather and Jenny Joint Birthdays Celebration Maiden Hurdle in which Wonderful Edge, three times a winner on the flat in Germany, could make a winning British debut for Philip Hobbs and Johnson White. This will be the fastest ground he will have raced on, all his wins having come on an easy surface but, if handles the going, might be too good for his rivals.
Climbing, owned by HM The Queen and Sir Chips Keswick, was sent off favourite on his racecourse debut, finishing out of the frame, but stepped up on that opening effort to finish second to hot favourite The Galahad Kid at Stratford last time and The Geordie Ginge, who has twice lost out in close finishes, are others to consider.
Dan’s Chosen had Glajou behind him when winning here last month and they meet again in the Andy Hobbs Memorial Handicap Chase over two miles and five furlongs. Glajou’s cause wasn’t helped by a mistake at the last fence that day and, on better terms, can turn the tables, with Investment Manager, winner of a longer race on the same card, a danger.
Clearance, twice a winner over the course already this season, looks to overcome a 3lb rise in the weights in the Class 3 Talk Tidy Marketing Handicap Hurdle. He will again be ridden by Tom Cannon, who held him up before coming through and putting in a good jump at the last flight to beat Nibras Gold three weeks ago.
The combination can score again at the expense of Enthused, who finished second to Clearance here in June and is better off at the weights, so there shouldn’t be much between them this time.
Lelantos, Nicky Henderson’s only entry of the afternoon, carries joint top weight in the closing William Hill Leading Racecourse Bookmaker Handicap Hurdle over an extended three and a quarter miles and should go close if reproducing his run when beating Mr Yeats from a 2lb higher mark at Bangor-on-Dee a year ago.
He has to give 22lbs to Saxon Queen, who beat Rubys Reward over course and distance in June, and 19lbs to Danzini, whose trainer Keiran Burke described at his stable open day as “a lovely, genuine mare who should be returning to the winner’s enclosure soon”.
Tickets for Tuesday’s fixture at Newton Abbot are on sale now. Book Paddock Enclosure tickets before 11.59pm on Monday to save £2pp.
Tickets will also be available on the gate on the day
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