Course getting all set up for Ladies’ Day

LOCAL trainers and jockeys are happy that jump racing has returned after another of its occasional mid-year breaks, and they came back from Newton Abbot at the end of Saturday afternoon with one winner, three seconds, two thirds and a fourth to their credit.

The winner was Ben Jones, who rode Little Jessture to her fourth course win in the 2m6f hurdle. It’s a convenient track for her Dorset trainer Ben Clarke, and her record there is 13721411.

Jones is her regular pilot and sat tight while she made some slightly sketchy jumps, but she was good at the last and ran on well to score by a length and a half.

Rated only 89 before this, she should have more opportunities at the tight Devon circuit in the next few months. The runner-up was Loved Out, for Evan and Isabel Williams.

Form students noted that Sean Bowen was at the Abbot for one ride, the David Rees-trained Karannelle. This mare has been in fine form this year but she was up against an Archie Watson runner, Al Zaraqaan, who was entitled to improve on this, his third start over obstacles. He won this 2m1f handicap hurdle to add to his six successes on the flat. Karannelle was second.

Wales’s other runner-up was Robert Stephens’s Turpin Gold, who had little chance on the book against a Fergal O’Brien odds on shot. But he was only beaten two and a half lengths and is improving with every run. A close third was Evan Williams’s Sydney Blues, who exceeded expectations judging by his SP of 40/1. It was his first run over jumps for the yard, following a couple of outings over six furlongs and a mile on the flat.

David Probert’s recent Group 2 winner Sandrine finished third in the City of York Stakes at the Ebor meeting, a respectable performance. David Evans’s star sprinter Rohaan was below par in seventh and might be better off reverting to six furlongs, the distance at which he won two Wokinghams. The Betfair Sprint Cup – formerly the Vernons – at Haydock in two weeks’ time could be a target.

We are now just a couple of days away from one of our most popular meetings of the season, Ladies’ Day, on Friday. It’s the ultimate excuse to get dressed up in your most stylish outfits and enjoy live music after racing from Liberty X and the S Club All-Stars. There’s also an appearance from the Million Dollar Men. This is – of course – in addition to seven races from 1.35pm.

Further information, including numerous bus services to the track, is on the website. We also race tomorrow.