Jul 04, 2022

Racing Review - Friday 1 July

Cheered on by a large contingent from the Owners Group syndicate, Wild Max, ridden by Harry Cobden, made it three wins from four starts this season when landing the feature race of the afternoon, the Class 3 St Austell Brewery Novices’ Chase, at Newton Abbot on Friday.

Although he had to concede weight to all his rivals, Wild Max boasted by far the best form coming into the race and, starting at the prohibitive odds of 1/12, he saw off Irish point-to-point winner Hard Lines, who was making his second appearance for trainer Evan Williams, by 15 lengths with Treacys Jim, who was supported from 33/1 into 12/1 and had kept the winner company early on, a further 25 lengths back in third.

It was Sure Touch, winner of a heavy ground Wincanton bumper eighteen months ago, who was all the rage for the opening Newtonabbotrace On Twitter Maiden Hurdle, heading the market at 4/6. Second favourite at 2/1 was Ami Des Flots, another to have crossed the Irish Sea, who had made a pleasing debut for trainer Kim Bailey when runner-up at Ffos Las. Punters got it spot on as Sure Touch, who had failed to win in four previous attempts over hurdles and was having his first run since March, got off the mark in the hands of this season’s leading jockey Sean Bowen.

Fire Squadron, who wasn’t fluent at some of the hurdles, made the early running, tracked by Ami Des Flots with Sure Touch handy in midfield. David Bass sent Ami Des Flots on with a circuit to go, but was headed by Sure Touch at the penultimate flight and the race was all over as Bowen, who had ridden a double at Perth the day before, kicked clear to increase his lead at the top of the table.

There was not much to choose between four of the five runners in the betting for the following Class 3 newtonabbotracing.com Handicap Hurdle, with State Crown just shading favouritism at 5/2. A 10 length course and distance winner last August, State Crown was running from a 2lb lower mark here and made all to hold off Krypton Gold by two and a half lengths, with Clearance just denying Kolisi, who made a bad mistake at the last, for third place.

Twice a winner on the flat in France, Free Chakarte won by 23 lengths at Hexham on her British debut, but suffered defeat at the hands of Mucuna at Aintree last time. The two met again in the Racing Partnership TRP Juvenile Hurdle over two miles and, with Free Chakarte 6lbs better off this time, she was made favourite to gain her revenge.

The result was just the same, however, as Mucuna pipped pacesetter Free Chakarte by a head to bring up the 11th winner of the season for trainer Milton Harris, who is operating at a 23% strike rate.

Course winner Little Jessture, fourth to Allsfineandandy at the last meeting, headed the betting for the Thank You Georgie Robarts Handicap Hurdle, but there was also plenty of support for Cry Wolf, backed from 8/1 to 9/2. It was Little Jessture who came out on top, being brought with a well-timed run by Ben Jones to lead at the second-last flight and hold off the challenge of Huelgoat on the short run-in by three-quarters of a length with Alramz, also well-backed, plugging on to take third.

The consistent Jony Max and hunter chase winner Port O’Clock, runner-up on his stable debut for David Pipe, jumped the last fence together in the William Hill Leading Racecourse Bookmaker Handicap Chase over three and a quarter miles. It was Jony Max who proved the stronger in the hands of Jack Tudor, going clear on the run-in to record his third win under Rules.

Pipe had introduced ex-Irish point-to-point winner Tango Arumba to win here two meetings ago and he repeated the trick with Punchestown scorer Lock Out, sent off the 5-4 favourite, in the concluding Sky Sports Racing On Sky 415 Open National Hunt Flat Race.

Racing returns to Newton Abbot Racecourse on Monay 11 July with the first race due off at 1.30pm. Tickets are on sale now – book in advance to save money on Paddock Admission. Book Tickets.