Jun 13, 2022

Racing Review - Friday 10 June 2022

Kauto The King followed up his win at Worcester last time when collaring Mercian Prince on the run-in to land Newton Abbot’s feature race on Friday evening, the Class 2 Racing Partnership Handicap Chase over two miles and half a furlong.

Six times a winner over fences, Kauto The King had made all the running to score at Worcester, but it was the oldest horse in the race, Mercian Prince, who took the runners along this time. Having tracked the leader, Brendan Powell brought Kauto The King to challenge over the last two fences and go to the front on the run-in to win by one and a half lengths and defy a 5lb rise in the weights.

There was an odds-on favourite in the opening Newton Abbot Racecourse On Facebook Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle over two miles and a furlong, with Ultimate Fame sent off at 10/11 to go one better than when runner-up to Lunar Shadow at Southwell last time. There was also money for Kentford Swansong, making her hurdles debut, backed from 15/4 into 9/4, but More Joy, bought out of David Cottin’s stable in France and making her British debut for Sophie Leech, was the drifter in the market, going out from 11/8 to 4/1.

Ultimate Fame had to settle for the runner-up spot again as 12-1 shot Craan Run, a winner of a point-to-point and having her second start for trainer Alastair Ralph, made all the running to score by two and a half lengths. The favourite had taken a keen hold in the race and, although looming up to Craan Run at the second-last flight, couldn’t go past and was quickly seen off from the last.

Zoran, fourth behind Kapitaliste on his first run since wind surgery here last time, was the big drifter in the Watch Free Race Replays On attheraces.com Handicap Hurdle, going out from 7/2 to 17/2, as the money came for Bagan, who shortened from 11/2 into 10/3, and Tarseem, still looking for his first win after eight races, backed from 11/2 into 9/2.

Zoran took over from Miss Marette jumping the penultimate flight, but was quickly challenged by stable companions Tarseem and Appreciate, with the Milton Harris duo crossing the line together. It was Appreciate, bought in after winning a Stratford seller last time, who got the verdict by a short head.

After Kilmington Rose had led early, it was top-weight Peltwell who took up the running in the Talk Tidy Marketing Mares’ Handicap Hurdle and, under a good ride from Sam Twiston-Davies, fought off the challengers, running on strongly to beat Cool Stone, who was making her handicap debut. Kilmington Rose didn’t look happy on her previous run over fences at Warwick and was untidy at a number of the flights here, finishing tailed-off despite Harry Cobden’s best efforts to keep her mind on the job.

Imperial Joe, who made an impressive chasing debut here two meetings ago, had to overcome an11lb rise in the weights in the Sky Sports Racing Sky 415 Handicap Chase, but he couldn’t quite make it as, although he held a clear lead at the final jump, he was caught close home and beaten a head by Romanor, who defied a burden of 12-2 under Micheal Nolan to record his first win since July last year.

There were just five entries for the newtonabbotracing.com Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase over three and a quarter miles, with trainer Dan Skelton responsible for two of them, and he relied on Lakota Warrior, ridden by his brother Harry, who looked to have chasing debutant Skatman to beat. They were locked together turning for home, but Skatman looked to be going the better approaching the penultimate jump where Lakota Warrior fell, leaving him to clear the last and finish alone.

David Pipe’s Tango Arumba, who was bought for £75,000 after her Irish point win, had been declared to run at Uttoxeter the evening before but, with that race abandoned, was re-routed to Newton Abbot for the closing newtonabbotracing.com Open National Hunt Flat Race. She duly obliged, making all the running under David Noonan to beat market rival Mark The Man, who hung badly close home.

Racing returns to Newton Abbot Racecourse with another evening fixture on Tuesday 21 June for the ever-popular Ladies’ Day. Tickets are on sale now – Book Paddock Tickets in advance to save on admission.

To find out more about the Ladies’ Day fixture, including the prizes for this year’s Best Dressed Lady and Best Hat competitions, head over to our Newton Abbot Racecourse Ladies’ Day 2022 page today.