Newton Abbot Racecourse: Centara Completes Newton Abbot Hat-Trick

Newton Abbot’s Thursday (21 August) afternoon meeting brought in a variety of results from its seven races, but none more significant than Paul Nicholls’ horse, Centara, completing a Newton Abbot hat-trick of successes under Jay Tidball.

Although he won over course and distance three times on the bounce, the gelding had started his winning spree at Hereford in May, so has hit a four-timer. 

Read on for a full report of Newton Abbot’s Thursday 21 August card, courtesy of Boyle Sports, who provide all the latest horse racing odds. 

The first race, a maiden hurdle over two and a quarter miles (2.10), saw the first winning favourite of the day; Whatyouwaitingfor, trained by Nigel and Willy Twiston-Davies and ridden by Sam Twiston-Davies. The gelding was leading into the home straight, but with 7/4 shot Three Pikes breathing down his neck. The two duelled home, but the favourite eventually won by a short head in a nail-biting finish. 

Next was a handicap hurdle over the same trip (2.45). The favourite was No Guarantee at 2/1, who was a prominent runner in the field of 13, but he was ought of the handicap by three pounds and in the end lost out to two better horses ridden by claiming riders in Hill Station (5/1) and Baikal (18/1), who kept on very well under Joe Anderson to win by over a length. 

Despite a surprising result in the second race, favourites were back in business come the third; a handicap chase over three and a quarter miles (3.20). With only five runners, the clear market leader was Evan Williams’ Blackacre, ridden by Adam Wedge. Tom Ellis’ Just A Memory looked the winner for much of the home straight, but Adam Wedge kept asking his mount for effort and the pair managed to fight their way forward to the front and won by eight lengths. 

Next was a handicap hurdle over two miles and one furlong (3.55). Harry Derham’s Sergeant Fury was 2/1 favourite out of a small but tightly contested field of five runners. Though the gelding, ridden by Paul O’Brien, ran a good race and was keeping on well, he fell victim to the lesser weight carried by Jamie Snowden’s Hope Rising, who was able to press nearly four lengths into the lead under Gavin Sheehan. 

Race five was the extended two mile handicap chase (4.25) which saw Centara complete his Newton Abbot hat-trick. Despite his consistency, the gelding was not favourite at the off; instead, Alan King’s Finest View was the main fancy, jumping off at 2/1. Centara made all, however, and although pestered by the favourite, was not for catching and kept two lengths between them upon crossing the line. Jet Of Dreams was third at 9/2, followed by 7/1 Coastyard Station in fourth and 13/2 Fringall Dike in fifth. 

The penultimate race was a handicap hurdle over three and a quarter miles (5.00). We had joint favourites here in what was an open race; Testflight and Karavomylos, both a 4/1. Turning into the home straight, there were a number of the 10 runners with a chance, but over the second last hurdle it became clear that the very nimble Faded Fantasy was going to win at 9/2. The Christian Williams-trained gelding made use of the quick ground and finished fast, seven lengths ahead of the rest. Testflight was the runner-up, staying on but in vain. 

Finally, the afternoon’s racing concluded with a handicap chase over two miles and five furlongs (5.35). James Bowen rode the favourite, Limerick Leader (3/1), in another competitive race with numerous possibilities. Chris Honour’s Time To Bite, ridden by Bryan Carver, was the runner to make all once again, though, just like his last run over course and distance in July, and barely had to try to win, crossing the finish line 11 lengths ahead of the favourite, barely out of a canter. 

Newton Abbot results - Thursday:

2.10 - Whatyouwaitingfor (6/4F) 2.45 - Baikal (18/1) 3.20 - Blackacre (6/4F) 3.55 - Hope Rising (5/2)

4.25 - Centara (9/4) 5.00 - Faded Fantasy (9/2) 5.35 - Time To Bite (7/2)