Jul 26, 2022

Racing Review - Monday 25 July 2022

San Giovanni, who had made all the running to beat market leader Biowavego at Worcester last month, was favourite to take the opening Racing Partnership Novices’ Hurdle over two miles and five and a half furlongs, shortening to 4/9 before easing back to 4/7 at the off as late money came for Huelgoat.

With Biowavego franking the form when winning at Uttoxeter on Friday, San Giovanni certainly looked the one to beat, although Huelgoat, who had come back from a 160-day break to be beaten less than a length by Little Jessture in a handicap here at the beginning of the month, was receiving 7lbs.

In a slowly-run race, it was San Giovanni who came out on top, again making all the running with Nick Scholfield, finding the extra one and a half furlongs here no problem at all as he powered clear in the home straight to win by 20 lengths from Huelgoat, with the only other runner Sorellina Royale tailed off when refusing at the seventh flight.

Jony Max, who had been raised 6lbs for his course win over Port O’Clock at the start of the month, was a solid 13/8 favourite to land the longest race of the afternoon, the newtonabbotracing.com Handicap Chase over three and a quarter miles. Second favourite was Balkardy, winner of three races in a row before finishing runner-up to Hell Red at the last meeting.

Neither could match David Pipe’s ex-French horse Defi D’Oudairies, beaten a nose over hurdles here, but disappointing at Uttoxeter last time, who returned to fences in some style. Clear at the final fence, he went further away on the run-in to beat an eased-down Jony Max, who just held on from Balkardy, with the other two runners, Lord Bryan and Nelsons Rock, pulled up when out of contention.

In the absence of Eltham Valley, four set out in the McGuinness Dart Family Handicap Hurdle with Stratford maiden hurdle winner Fire Lake, making her handicap debut, heading the market from course winner Clearance. Punters got it spot on, as Fire Lake and Mitchell Bastyan led over the final flight to hold off the running-on Manor Park in a race where less than six lengths covered all the runners.

The consistent Ragamuffin, a hurdle race winner over the course eleven months ago, came to the last fence in the Mark Roscoe Taylor Happy 60th Handicap Chase with a clear advantage over Dindin, who had a race at his mercy when falling at the same obstacle at the last meeting. This time it was Ragamuffin who was to make a mistake, handing the advantage to Dindin but, on the short run-in, Sam Twiston-Davies drove him back up to snatch victory right on the line to give trainer Neil Mulholland, who was in double-winning form at Les Landes in Jersey on Sunday, another winner.

Irish point-to-point winners The Galahad Kid and Dame De Fortune dominated the market for the closing TalkTidy Marketing Open Maiden National Hunt Flat Race and it was The Galahad Kid, sent off the 4/6 favourite, who prevailed by a neck from the John Berry trained newcomer Merrijig, with Dame De Fortune, the only ride of the day for Aidan Coleman, a close up third.

Racing returns to Newton Abbot on Saturday 20 August, with tickets for this popular fixture available ONLY in advance. No tickets will be available on the gate on the day so book today to secure your tickets.