Sep 06, 2022

Racing Review - Monday 5 September 2022

Mr Yeats, in the frame in all five of his races since winning at Ludlow in May, got back on the winning trail at Newton Abbot on Monday when landing an eventful running of the Par Inn For Sport And Fun Handicap Hurdle, feature contest on the seven-race card.

It was dual course winner Valentino who headed the market at 7/4, but there was also support for Mr Yeats, who shortened from 13/2 to 9/2 before easing to 11/2 at the off. Sizing Cusimano and Valentino, who had become very warm before the start, made the running but, by the turn for home, it was Valentino who had gone on with Mr Yeats moving into contention.

It all changed at the penultimate flight, however, as Valentino’s saddle slipped and he jinked and unseated Harry Kimber, leaving Mr Yeats to come home clear of the rest.

Before racing got underway, a minute’s silence was held in memory of 13-year-old Jack de Bromhead, only son of leading Irish trainer Henry de Bromhead, who was killed in a pony racing accident at the weekend and whose death had shocked the racing world.

Wellington trainer Alexandra Dunn took the opening attheraces.com Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Chase with Minella Voucher, racing in the colours of Taunton Town Football Club, who brought up the trainer’s ninth win of the season, her best score for five years.

Shanroe Smooch and Flying Verse cut out the running over the three and a quarter mile trip but, by the third-last fence, it was Joey Steel who had gone to the front, holding a clear advantage over Flying Verse. Meanwhile, Minella Voucher, who had been held up by Toby Wynne, was making steady progress towards the front two and he passed Joey Steel on the run-in to win by three-quarters of a length.

Although there were five runners, the Class 3 Par Inn Racing Club “National Hunt” Novices’ Hurdle looked a match between Gaulois, bidding for a course hat-trick, and Heronord, who he beat by a length when they met here in July. Although the weights favoured Heronord this time, the result was the same as, having raced together for most of the trip, it was Gaulois who asserted from the home turn to run out a clear winner.

Percy’s Word was a red-hot favourite to take the Newton Abbot Racecourse On Facebook Selling Hurdle, with only the lightly-raced Blazer’s Mill fancied to mount a challenge. Blazer’s Mill led at the fourth-last flight, but was passed by Percy’s Word on the turn for home and Dan Skelton’s charge came right away to win in a canter, with 22/1 outsider Yaazaain running on to be a remote second.

With Little Jessture a non-runner, Triple Nickle headed the market in the Newtonabbotrace On Twitter Mares’ Handicap Hurdle, just ahead of Fontwell Park winner Belle Na Bann. Ridden by Tom Scudamore, it was Belle Na Bann who came out on top again, hitting the front nearing the penultimate flight to score easily.

Coal Stock, who got off the mark over fences here last month, finished third to El Paso Wood at Stratford on Saturday and turned out again in the Millie And Rescued Dog Owners Novices’ Handicap Chase over two miles and five furlongs.
Sent off the 6/4 favourite to defy top weight of 12-0, he made the early running before being passed by Getaman, but with the leader running out of puff having been stepped up in trip here, it was Huelgoat, making his chasing debut, who cruised into the lead at the second-last fence to win easily.

Bobby Socks, the only mount of the afternoon for Aidan Coleman, was odds-on favourite to take the closing Racing Partnership TRP Open National Hunt Flat Race in which three of the six runners were making their racecourse debut. Wot You Wearing, the most experienced of those with form having run three times, was sent off second-favourite, and they finished in market order, with Bobby Socks making all the running.

Racing returns to Newton Abbot Racecourse for the second time this month on Friday 16 September – Book Newton Abbot Racecourse Tickets