May 31, 2023

Racing Review - Wednesday 31 May 2023

Trainer Fergal O’Brien continued his good start to the new season when landing a short-priced double at Newton Abbot courtesy of Carrigeen Kampala,and Chief Black Robe.

The Newton Abbot Racecourse On Facebook Mares’ ‘National Hunt’ Novices’ Hurdle over two miles and one furlong got the seven-race card underway and there was a hot favourite in easy Stratford winner Carrigeen Kampala, who shortened from 10/11 to 4/7. Second favourite was Mairis Icon, who also attracted support from 13/2 to 5/1, but it was Ede’lffs Rock, who had run well at big odds behind hot-pot Queens Gamble at Warwick, who was to chase home the favourite.

In what amounted to not much more than an exercise gallop, Carrigeen Kampala made all the running in the hands of Liam Harrison to win by 17 lengths, giving her jockey a landmark 75th career winner.

In a pretty open betting heat for the Talk Tidy Marketing Handicap Chase, there was not much to choose between four of the five runners, but it was Trevada, runner-up to Small Bad Bob at Plumpton in his first race over fences, who just shaded favouritism. The race looked to be between Trevada and Ballinsker as the runners turned to face the last two fences, but 3/1 shot Tommie Beau was produced by Micheal Nolan to lead at the final jump and prove too strong for Trevada, with the fading Ballinsker back in third.

Basford, runner-up in his last five starts, was the shortest priced favourite of the afternoon, being sent off at odds of 1/5 to get his head in front in the William Hill Maiden Hurdle. Ridden for the first time by Jonjo O’Neill Jr, Basford jumped to the front at the third-last flight and comfortably saw off the challenge of Bala Brook to gain his first success in a race where only four of the eight runners finished.

Race-fit Chief Black Robe, an easy winner on his chase debut at Market Rasen, was odds-on to make it four winning favourites in a row in the Racing Partnership Novices’ Handicap Chase. His main rival looked to be top-weight Swapped, who was making his chasing debut, and so it turned out as the two had the race between them from a long way out.

Swapped’s jumping was sketchy early on, but it improved as the race progressed, although he had no answer to Chief Black Robe who took the lead at the third-last fence to run out an easy winner and provide O’Brien with his 18th success of the new campaign and a double on the afternoon.

Returning after wind surgery, Sherborne was an easy winner on soft ground at Ffos Las, but faced much faster going in the Download The At The Races App Handicap Hurdle over the slightly longer trip of two miles five and a half furlongs. Heading the market was Loved Out, narrowly beaten just four days ago, but he could only finish fourth as 3/1 shot Sherborne was brought by Freddie Gingell to lead approaching the penultimate flight and make it back-to-back wins.

Espoir De Teillee, winner of two of his last thee hunter chases, and Diligent, who won five chases when trained by Nigel Hawke, dominated the betting in the Totnes And Bridgetown Steeple Chase Company Open Hunters’ Chase. There was to be a shock in store, however, as outsider No Getaway took the lead at the fourth-last fence and gradually went clear of his two rivals to give jockey Sean Clarke his first winner under Rules,

The closing newtonabbotracing.com Novices’ Handicap Hurdle saw the biggest field of the day and it was top-weight Charlie My Boy, who was twice hampered at critical stages in his last race, who headed the market. Asked to defy 12-0, Charlie My Boy and Harry Kimber set sail for home turning out of the back straight and, despite not fluent over the last flight, held off the lightly-weighted Only Fools.

Racing returns to Newton Abbot Racecourse on Wednesday 7 June. Tickets are on sale now – book Paddock Enclosure tickets online in advance to save £2 on your purchase – BOOK TICKETS