Punters enjoy the upper hand at Newton Races

Bookmakers had a tough time at Newton Abbot Racecourse on Friday, as the favourites emerged victorious in three of the six races that afternoon. 

Read on for a full report of the Newton Abbot card last Friday, courtesy of Sporting Life.

The first race of the day didn’t give punters much to choose from, with only three runners jumping off for the two and three-quarter mile maiden hurdle (1.58). Tony Carroll’s Isle Of Sark was the clear favourite at 4/9, while Evan Williams’ Linden Lane was 2/1 to win with David Rees’ Rubys Legacy a distant 20/1 in the market. The favourite was still full of running with two hurdles left to jump, and pulled well clear of his opponents to win by an effortless nine lengths ahead of Rubys Legacy. 

Favourites remained in business for the second race; a two and three-quarter mile handicap hurdle (2.33). This race had another small field of four runners, only three of which finished the race after Helen Nelmes’ Oval Street pulled up before jumping the second last. It came as no surprise that the winner here was Paul Nicholls’ Keel Strand, who landed a Newton Abbot hat-trick upon crossing the line, although Chris Down’s runner - Impecunious -  was less than a length behind him in an exciting finish. 

A mares’ handicap hurdle was next, again over two and three quarter miles (3.08). In what was an open race, Philip Hobbs and Johnson White’s Miss Popalong was 3/1 favourite at the off, and settled in midfield behind the leading pair of Pretty Punctual and Luna Run. In the closing stages, though, it was the backmarker Hurst Hill who kept on into the lead, to take the win for Seamus Mullins and claiming rider Daniel Sansom at 15/2, with Dan Skelton’s Kenmya just a neck behind her. 

The market predicted correctly once again for the extended two-mile chase (3.43). This race was another five-runner affair, with Warren Greatrex’s Shillanavogy the favourite when the tape went up at 6/5. Robbie Llewellyn’s Feel The Pinch was the next fancy at 9/4, but couldn’t get near the favourite, who jumped brilliantly from the front under James Bowen and eventually pulled over seven lengths away from the rest.

The penultimate race saw four runners in a handicap hurdle run over two miles and one furlong (4.18). Having already had a winner that afternoon, Paul Nicholls’ Seeyouinmydreams was the market leader at 5/6,  but he never managed to make it past the front-runner, Ollie Pears’ Max Of Stars, who ran quite keenly for Sam Twiston-Davies but stayed the distance, putting three lengths between himself and the Nicholls runner. War Lord and Old Bridge were a further 20 lengths behind the first pair when eventually crossing the line. 

Friday afternoon’s finale was a three and a quarter mile handicap chase (4.53) with a field of nine runners. In what was a competitive race, Sue Gardner’s Testflight, who had been a close second over course and distance last time out, was our favourite at 5/2. All runners jumped well, and it looked to be anyone’s race, but Conor Ring had been patiently waiting onboard Grace Harris’ My Girl Katie and, when the rider pressed ‘go’, the mare responded to great effect to move past the field and win by nearly five lengths at 5/1. 

Newton Abbot results - Friday: 1.58 - Isle Of Sark (4/9F)  2.33 - Keel Strand (4/6F)  3.08 - Hurst Hill (15/2) 3.43 - Shillanavogy (6/5F) 4.18 - Max Of Stars (7/4) 4.53 - My Girl Katie (5/1)