Jun 26, 2019

Racing Review: Tuesday 25 June 2019

Pacific De Baune made every yard of the running with Jeremiah McGrath to land the £22,500 St Austell Brewery Handicap Chase, feature race of Newton Abbot’s popular St Austell Brewery Ladies Day.

In the absence of Beggar’s Wishes, five set out for what looked on paper to be an open contest, with Wait For Me, on whom Tom O’Brien was standing in for Richard Johnson, heading Paul Nicholls’ course and distance winner Romain De Senam in the betting.

But, it was Pacific De Baune, who had opened his chasing account when winning a three-horse race at Warwick last year, who took the honours, leading from start to finish to deny Wait For Me, who just edged out Kentford Heiress for the runner-up spot.

The Racing Partnership TRP Novices’ Handicap Hurdle over an extended two and a quarter miles kicked off the seven-race card and it saw the biggest field of the evening with 15 runners lining up. It produced the shock result of the season so far at the Devon track, with 80-1 shot Russian’s Legacy just getting the better of Vanderbilt by a head, with Dora’s Field back in third.

Russian’s Legacy was a first winner of the season for Moretonhampstead trainer Gail Haywood and those lucky enough to pick the first two home scooped £2,908.10 to a £1 stake on the Tote Exacta. It wasn’t the first time that the stable has sent out a long-priced winner at the course, as Hija was also returned at 80-1 when winning on her debut back in April 2015.

Trainer Tim Vaughan saddled Presenting Berkley to win last year’s running of the David Chillery Continues Celebrating His Divorce Novices’ Handicap Chase and he was responsible for the favourite this time in the shape of Midnight Folie, seven times a winner in point-to-points for Amber Mathias before scoring by 15 lengths on her Rules debut at Ffos Las.

Although she made a couple of mistakes on her debut, Midnight Folie was foot-perfect for this second start and, having seen off the challenge of Mogestic down the back straight, she was just too good for her rivals, the best of whom was Skinflint, having his first run since re-joining trainer David Pipe.

The Olly Murphy trained three-time winner The Butcher Said had to give weight to all his rivals in the newtonabbotracing.com Novices’ Hurdle, but is progressing with each run and was a red-hot favourite to win again. Taken to the start early, he was held up by Adrian Heskin behind pace-setter Timber House and, whilst he took a little time to get into top gear, once he jumped into the lead at the penultimate flight, the race was quickly over.

Running on well for second place was Gail Haywood’s 33-1 shot Fleur Du Weld, with former point-to-pointer Ballyjim stepping up on his first run at Worcester to finish third.

With Robin Des People withdrawn close to the start time, a field of 13 set out for the Fred Champion Groundworks Handicap Chase, with As You Like and Royal Magic joint favourites. Royal Magic was in the lead when falling at the 10th fence, leaving Hidden Charmer in front, seemingly going well within himself.

But, his chance went with a bad mistake at the second-last and it was Battle Of Ideas and As You Like who came through to fight out the finish, with the former prevailing by a neck under Harry Cobden. Old Harry Rocks ran much better than on his previous start at Stratford to finish third.

Jacbequick and Powerful Society vied for favouritism in the Janet Denning Fifehead Farms Memorial Handicap Hurdle for lady amateur riders and, after outsider Excellent Team had led the runners into the home straight, it was Jacbequick who took command on the run-in to see off Green Or Black, who was finishing runner-up for the second year in a row.

The longest race on the card, the St Austell Brewery Handicap Hurdle over three miles and three furlongs, brought the curtain down and it went to Judge Earle, who had been backed from 33-1 into 10-1 and the money talked as he came home 15 lengths clear of Prophets Prayer.

Racing returns to Newton Abbot Racecourse on Friday 5 July with an evening racing fixture. To buy tickets, visit the online ticket store today and book online in advance to save on Paddock Admission.