Jul 18, 2022

Racing Review - Sunday 17 July 2022

Odds-on favourite Hell Red, ridden by Harry Cobden, landed the feature Class 3 Racing Partnership Novices’ Chase in a close finish with Balkardy at a sun-drenched, sell-out Newton Abbot.

With his intended mount Skatman withdrawn, Cobden switched to stable companion Hell Red who headed the market from Balkardy, chasing a four-timer, with the maiden Crisis Of Identity the outsider of the three.

Hell Red had finished last of four over two miles at Southwell last time out and the nearest distance he had tackled to this three and a quarter mile trip was when finishing down the field in a Taunton hurdle race over three miles back in December. If Cobden had any doubts about Hell Red’s stamina, however, he didn’t show them, taking his mount into the lead from the start and seeing off the challenge of Balkardy and Isabel Williams on the run-in to win by three-quarters of a length.

Appreciate’s winning run came to an end when he was beaten by Eagle’s Realm at Stratford the previous Sunday, but he was sent off the 5/4 favourite to regain the winning thread in the opening Follow@willhillracing On Twitter Novices’ Handicap Hurdle. Much as he tried, he couldn’t peg back Ranco, who had led three flights from home and ran on well for jockey Tom Buckley to score at the ninth time of asking over jumps and on his first outing for Tiverton trainer Nigel Hawke.

Brendan Powell, fresh from a winner at Cartmel the previous day, added another to his seasonal tally when Rectory Oak, blinkered for the first time, won an eventful In Memory Of Pat And Maurice Vinicombe Handicap Chase. He was trailing Mister Allegro and top-weight Dindin, who looked to have the race between them, turning for home, but Mister Allegro unseated Rex Dingle at the penultimate fence and favourite Dindin fell at the last, leaving Rectory Oak to finish alone.

There was nothing between dual course winner My Lady Grey and Cresswell Queen, a winner on her first appearance for trainer Debra Hamer at Ffos Las last time, in the betting for the long-distance David Incles 80th Birthday Mares’ Handicap Chase, going off the 15/8 joint favourites.

Neither could land a blow, however, against the 16/1 outsider of the party, On Time, who made all the running, overcoming a mistake at the 15th fence, for an easy victory to record her first success over jumps. It was also a welcome winner for jockey Conor Ring, who had hit the floor when Arizona Glory jumped awkwardly and unseated him in the previous race.

With likely favourite Nibras Gold and Kanukankan both non-runners, just three lined up for the Mason Arms Novices’ Hurdle with Gaulois, who had denied Jean Genie by a head here in May, sent off the 1/4 favourite. He gave his backers a bit of a fright, however, before overcoming Heronord in the last 100 yards to bring up doubles for jockey Tom Buckley and trainer Paul Nicholls.

There was just a head between Mucuna,and Free Chakarte when they met here at the beginning of the month and they faced a re-match in the Class 3 newtonabbotracing.com Juvenile Hurdle. Although Free Chakarte was better off at the weights, the result was the same, although Mucuna increased her superiority to 22 lengths this time in making it four wins from five runs this season. She is clearly thriving right now and, with Bradley Harris never having to ask a question, can win again whilst the sun continues to shine.

Favourite backers ended the day on a high note when the veteran Our Three Sons, sent off at 13/8, just held on by the minimum margin of a nose to beat the ex-French top-weight Defi D’Oudairies in the closing Racing Partnership Handicap Hurdle.

Racing returns to Newton Abbot Racecourse on Monday 25 July – Book Newton Abbot Horseracing Tickets