Western Morning News (Saturday)
Racing returns at Newton Abbot with seven races on card
AFTER a short break, racing returns to Newton Abbot today with the first of two meetings this month, but there will be no walk-up admission, as all tickets sold out over a week ago.
Coming out of jump racing’s 12-day summer pause that ended last Saturday, Fergal O’Brien topped the trainers table, as he did this time last year, from David Pipe and Donald McCain. Champion trainer Paul Nicholls was lying in fourth place, but his stable stars traditionally start to appear with Chepstow’s opening jumps meeting in early October.
Highlight of today’s meeting is the fourth race, the Class 2 William Hill Betting TV Handicap Chase over two miles with a prize fund of £22,500, in which the O’Brien-trained Bathiva seeks a hat-trick after wins at Southwell and Worcester. Raised 5lbs for his latest win, he is now rated at 137, the same as Leapaway and Mercian Prince, who has won and been placed over hurdles in France since being beaten by Kauto The King over fences here in June.
A winner at Worcester on Wednesday, Peterborough has been declared to run under a 7lb penalty and Romanor, who beat Imperial Joe by a head over the course in June, returns after wind surgery,
The seven-race card, worth a total of £87,500, gets underway at 1.07pm with the Class 3 Happy Birthday John Lane Novices’ Hurdle over two miles. O’Brien’s Pop The Champagne, seeking a four-timer, tops the weights, but still looks the one to beat, although the consistent Olly’s Folly could make a race of it in receipt of 6lbs, including jockey Theo Gillard’s riding allowance.
Time To Burn, trained in her early career by Joseph O’Brien in Ireland, hasn’t looked like getting her head in front in nine outings on the flat and now makes her hurdling debut for Nigel Hawke, whereas Alexandra Dunn’s debutant Regulator has won twice on the level, albeit the last was in June 2021.
Coal Stock, who had been entered in the feature race, but hadn’t had the required number of qualifying runs, takes his chance in the Jen And Rick’s Golden Anniversary Gallop Handicap Chase, but course winner Ragamuffin, who is much more experienced over fences, could score again if turning out quickly after his run behind Hell Red at Fontwell Park on Thursday.
Two and three-quarter miles is the trip for another Class 2 contest, the Jenny Brewers 76 Birthday Celebrations Handicap Hurdle worth £15,000. Al Roc, well-beaten at Worcester on Wednesday, is the choice from two entries for David Pipe and would be running in his 12th race of the season here. Irish amateur Aine O’Connor takes the ride on course winner Litterale Ci, but preference is for Hooper, third behind course specialist Jamacho at Stratford last time out, who continues to drop down the weights.
You have to go back to October 2019 to find Maria Magdalena’s last win, but she is a consistent
mare who might get her reward in the Dan Rowe Legend 50th Blast Handicap Hurdle, although dual course winner Little Jessture should go well again off bottom weight.
Also carrying Class 3 status is the Ken Upton Memorial Novices’ Chase over two miles and five furlongs and worth £13,400. Course winner Hell Red, the only entry at the meeting for Paul Nicholls, won easily at Font well Park two days ago, whilst O’Brien has declared both Byzantine Empire and Mortlach. Olly Murphy’s Restandbethankful has twice finished behind Byzantine Empire but, in receipt of 10lbs, could close the gap this time.
The juvenile Captain Square can take advantage of his weight allowance in an open-looking Visit attheraces.com Handicap Hurdle to record his second course win. Another course winner Karannelle looks to be too high in the weights at the moment and the consistent Tarseem has seen his rating increase despite not winning and also looks to need a bit of respite from the handicapper.