May 29, 2023

Racing Preview - Wednesday 31 May

Wednesday sees the first of three Wednesday meetings in a row at Newton Abbot with the second race on the card, the Class 3 Talk Tidy Marketing Handicap Chase over three and a quarter miles, topping the bill.

Forgot To Ask, a winner of six races, heads the weights, but has been beaten six times since his last win at Stratford a year ago. He returned from a 152-day-break at Kempton Park at the beginning of the month, weakening from the second-last fence, but should come on for that race which was a stronger contest.

Tommie Beau won a four-horse race at Plumpton in March and Ballinsker is very much in form, winning at Ffos Las in April. Premiumaccess continues to drop down the weights, being 17lbs lower than his peak rating of 123 in February 2021, but he has won only one of his twenty starts under Rules, although gets his chance today in this small field.

The Newton Abbot Racecourse On Facebook Mares’ ‘National Hunt’ Novices’ Hurdle over two miles and one furlong gets the seven-race card underway at 1.55pm and Carrigeen Kampala looks to have a good chance of following up her easy Stratford win at the expense of Ede’lffs Rock who ran a mighty race at odds of 50/1 when chasing home hot-pot Queens Gamble at Warwick.

Basford, runner-up in his last five starts, looks to get his head in front in the William Hill Maiden Hurdle over two miles five and a half furlongs. Jonjo O’Neill Jr, who is a fine judge of pace, takes the ride for the first time and the new combination should have every chance in this.

Although Lambourn trainer Nicky Henderson has a runner in the last race at Warwick in the evening, stable jockey Nico de Boinville travels to Newton Abbot to ride top-weight Swapped in the Racing Partnership Novices’ Handicap Chase. Making his chasing debit here, Swapped looks to have a bit to find on recent runs, but could still be the one to be on with Imprevu Du Large and race-fit Chief Black Robe the likely dangers.

Returning after wind surgery, Sherborne ran out an easy winner on soft ground at Ffos Las and, if able to handle the faster going he will encounter here, should follow up in the Download The At The Races App Handicap Hurdle over the slightly longer trip of two miles five and a half furlongs. Having led after the final flight, Loved Out was caught on the line four days ago and makes a quick reappearance here.

Regular sponsors The Totnes And Bridgetown Steeple Chase Company support the Open Hunters’ Chase in which Espoir De Teillee, winner of two of his last thee hunter chases, and Diligent, who won five chases when trained by Nigel Hawke, look likely to fight out the finish.

The biggest field of the day will line up in the closing newtonabbotracing.com Novices’ Handicap Hurdle and, in an open-looking contest, Charlie My Boy, who was twice hampered at critical stages in his last race, could defy 12-0 at the expense of Hill Station and the lightly-weighted Only Fools.

Tickets for Wednesday’ fixture at Newton Abbot are on sale now and will also be available on the gate on Wednesday. Book Paddock Enclosure tickets online in advance and save £2 per ticket – BOOK NEWTON ABBOT RACECOURSE TICKETS