Aug 23, 2023
Racing Review - Tuesday 22 August 2023
On an afternoon when Newton Abbot had the racing stage to itself, the large holiday crowd were treated to some exciting finishes, starting with the feature Class 3 newtonabbotracing.com Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase with Stepney Causeway getting up close home to beat Valentino Dancer by a neck.
Although there were four runners, the betting suggested the race would concern the top two with Valentino Dancer sent off the 4/5 favourite ahead of Stepney Causeway, who was weak in the market, drifting from 6/4 to 2/1. It didn’t look good for Stepney Causeway’s supporters when he whipped round at the start, giving his rivals a big lead but, with Valentino Dancer setting a steady pace, he caught up by the back straight, although still had ground to make up on the leader.
Despite jumping to his right throughout, Valentino Dancer still looked the likely winner coming to the last fence, but Stepney Causeway had been a useful hurdler in the past and he put that speed to good use, getting up on the short run-in under Harry Reed to win.
There was another close finish to the following Joe And Sophie Finally Got Married Mares’ Handicap Hurdle when Saddlers Quest, who had taken up the running between the last two flights, had to withstand a strong challenge from Isabella Bee, holding on by a head, the pair finishing clear of top-weight Karannelle, who had come from a long way back to finish third.
Pepsiwithacap and Caitlin’s Court had set a good pace and, although Pepsiwithacap still led turning for home, she was fighting a losing battle as the stronger finishers took control with Saddlers Quest following up her Uttoxeter win for trainer Debra Hamer and conditional jockey Joe Anderson.
Wonderful Eagle, three times a winner on the flat in Germany, just shaded favouritism ahead of Climbing, owned by HM The Queen and Sir Chips Keswick, and The Geordie Ginge in the Heather and Jenny Joint Birthdays Celebration Maiden Hurdle. Wonderful Eagle was looking to make a winning British debut for Philip Hobbs and Johnson White and, in the third close finish of the afternoon, he got up right on the line to deny Littel Flour, who had jumped the last flight clear, by a neck with The Geordie Ginge placed again in third.
There was no need for the judge to consult the photo finish camera in the fourth, the Andy Hobbs Memorial Handicap Chase over two miles and five furlongs, as Investment Manager, a winner over a longer trip on the course last month, went clear of Bagheera Ginge on the turn for home in the hands of Brendan Powell to run out a comfortable winner.
Clearance, twice a winner over the course already this season, looked to overcome a 3lb rise in the weights in the Class 3 Talk Tidy Marketing Handicap Hurdle. He had beaten Enthused over course and distance in June and he proved to be the main challenger again as, in a blanket finish, Clearance prevailed by a neck, with top-weight Lady Adare only a head behind in third and Aliomaana, who had led into the straight, half a length away in fourth.
On a day to set the pulses racing, there was yet another close call to the closing William Hill Leading Racecourse Bookmaker Handicap Hurdle when, at the end of three and a quarter miles, Lelantos, trainer Nicky Henderson’s only runner of the afternoon and Nico de Boinville’s only ride, gave 22lbs to Saxon Queen and 19lbs to Danzini with just a head and a neck between them.
Racing will return to Newton Abbot on Saturday 2 September – book Paddock Enclosure tickets online in advance to save £2pp.
Online ticket sales will close at 11.59pm on Friday 1 September but tickets will also be available to purchase on the gate on the day
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